British-Bangladeshi artist on the important role of community arts

As a part of the South Asian Heritage Month, British-Bangladeshi artist, Nilupa Yasmin has been working on the important role of community arts in the lives of older people. Nilupa, whose work has been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and bought by the Government Art Collection this year. She has the experience of getting creative with a group of over-65s throughout lockdown and give her views on how community arts have an important role to play in keeping older members of society connected even as freedom returns. In her latest project, ‘তেরা Tera – A Star’, Nilupa has been sharing her passion for weaving with members of Midlands Art Centre’s senior citizens’ circle ‘Culture Club’. The participants have been creating their own pieces of art, weaving together strips of photographs from their past while also experimenting with a large selection of fabric offcuts from market stalls and saris, provided by Nilupa.