Our 'Where East Meets West' project documents and showcases the rich history of the Club Kali from its inception in 1995 to the present day.
Club Kali is the UK’s first ever safe space welcoming all LGBTQ+ people to connect and celebrate their diverse South Asian heritage. It was set up by Dj Ritu MBE and Rita as a London-based club night, and grew into an inclusive and welcoming LGBTQ+ community. This safe space enabled connections, friendships, support and celebration through music making a huge difference to people’s lives in the UK and beyond. Now it’s time for this unique and pioneering heritage to be shared with the wider public.
Our team will record 30 oral histories from key stakeholders, and collect a wide range of memorabilia related to its history. The collated materials will be used to create an exhibition, a podcast series, and other learning resources. To deliver this project, Club Kali will collaborate with a wide range of local and national organisations including archives and community groups, including UCL, Queer Britain Museum, Islington Heritage, LGBTQ+ History Month, Social Broadcasts, LGBT+ Consortium and Naz and Matt Foundation. The collection will be added to Bishopsgate Institute’s permanent collection.
The project will provide opportunities for a wide range of people to participate and engage. Calls for participation will commence later this month, with the project scheduled to be completed by October 2025.
Club Kali Network’s Where East Meets West project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery Players.