Unity In Diversity: South Asians’ Stories in the Creative Industries

The evening you’ve been waiting for is finally here, real, honest and powerful.

Hosted by stand-up comedian, presenter and CMO, Tej Dhutia, join exciting and inspiring South Asian creatives, dreamers, and trailblazers for an evening of honest conversation, connection, and collective visioning.

As part of South Asian Heritage Month’s 2026 theme, Unity in Diversity, our incredible creators will share how their heritage, identities, and lived experiences have shaped their artistic journeys and creative expression. Together, we’ll explore how South Asians are navigating, reshaping, and reimagining their place in the creative industries, celebrating the beauty of our differences and the connections that unite us.

This event is proudly part of the wider Indian Summer Festival, whose 2026 theme, Cycles & Circles, explores connection, exchange, and the stories that shape us across generations, communities, and creative spaces.

Let’s create conversations that lead to change.

• An atmosphere that is positive and inspiring.
• Hard-hitting conversations about breaking into creative careers.
• A chance to network that feels authentic and natural.
• South Asians to be supported and seen.
• And most importantly, bringing the community together.

We are creating an an environment to showcase the routes that are not seen and the stories that are not heard. This event aims to provide people with access, opportunities, and encourage collective growth within the creative industry and to promote South Asian representation.

Anyone! Anyone who cares about making the creative world more inclusive!

This can include: South Asian creatives, students, aspiring artists, allies, educators, and changemakers. We want to espeically want to encourage the younger generation to join this conversation.

Tej Dhutia is a former pharmacist turned stand-up comedian/presenter/CMO, who understands firsthand the courage and uncertainty it takes to change direction and pursue your passions. Tej is hosting this special panel discussion during South Asian Heritage Month to bring together South Asian creatives and empower others to take meaningful steps toward making their dreams a reality. Having lived the struggle herself, she is passionate about creating spaces where stories are shared, community is built, and inspiration flourishes.

We’ve partnered with LCB Depot for this event because it’s not just a venue — it’s a proper creative hub for Leicester and the Midlands. The energy, the people, the vibe — it just made sense. We’re so grateful for their support and hope this is the start of something long-term. We want to keep building spaces that are diverse, open, and full of creativity, especially for South Asians. Here’s to more collabs that push the convo forward and light that creative spark.

The South Asian Heritage Trust is a registered charity (No. 1191918) dedicated to celebrating, commemorating, and educating about South Asian cultures and histories in the UK. SAHT builds understanding and belonging through storytelling, arts, and heritage.

At the heart of our work is South Asian Heritage Month (1st July - 31st July) – the UK’s first national awareness month dedicated to South Asian communities. Entirely volunteer-led, it now reaches thousands across the UK through events, exhibitions, and stories shared both online and in local communities.

This year’s theme is Unity in Diversity a theme chosen by our community, celebrating the many languages, faiths, cultures, stories and journeys that make us who we are. Though our paths may be different, we are connected by shared histories, shared hopes, and a deep sense of belonging.

Get involved:

• Check out events happening across the country: Events List - South Asian Heritage Trust
• Share your own story or event via our website: South Asian Heritage Month

Let’s make this month a powerful celebration of who we are and where we’re going.