We are delighted to receive a grant from the National Lottery Project Grants programme through Arts Council England for our new project Breaking Barriers.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been hugely challenging for the arts and culture sector. Within our work, the South Asian artists and freelancers  that we work with have suffered the negative impacts of Covid disproportionately with serious impacts on their livelihoods and careers. Our new project Breaking Barriers is specifically created to address some of the challenges being faced.

It will create new music commissions and digital performance opportunities for artists and provide training and development support.

We will be announcing further information soon.

Phil Gibby, South West Area Director, Arts Council, said:  

“We are delighted to confirm support for Asian Arts Agency through our National Lottery Project Grants programme, towards Breaking Barriers. A project that will support freelancers and individuals, especially those who have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 crisis. It is fantastic to see an organisation put artists and musicians at the front and centre of their work, as we start to ease out of the pandemic and look towards the new normal. They have secured some brilliant local and national partnerships, and it will be great to see the talent emerge and build new career prospects over the coming year”.

Jaswinder Singh, Director of Asian Arts Agency, said:

“We are really delighted to receive this grant and thank you to the Arts Council England for their support. The pandemic has been really challenging for us and the sector with loss of income and opportunities for artists. Through this project, we are looking forward to creating new opportunities for artists and freelancers through new music commissions, digital performances and training and development opportunities. Over the next few months, we will be closely monitoring the situation, to create balance between online and live performances for our artists and audiences.”

Breaking Barriers will be delivered in partnership with leading arts venues and specialist music industry organisations, including Arnolfini, BPI, Bristol Beacon and Real World Studios in Bath.