University of Leicester grows partnership with An Indian Summer festival
An event from last year's festival, held at the University's Botanic Garden. Photo: Tom P Morley
The fifteenth edition of one of the UK’s longest-running South Asian arts festivals will be supported by the University of Leicester.
An Indian Summer, which runs from Wednesday 1 to Sunday 5 July, is an annual celebration held across multiple venues and locations in Leicester.
This year the University will host the festival’s launch event, plus an Indian classical music concert, at Attenborough Arts Centre. Students from the University will also benefit from gaining experience in the running of the festival.
Andrew Fletcher, Attenborough Arts Centre Director, said: “We are delighted to continue our support of An Indian Summer this year, following a successful festival day at the University Botanic Garden last year which brought 800 visitors to experience the best in contemporary South Asian culture.
“This year’s programme promises to deliver an eclectic mix of outdoor theatre, dance, live music, film, visual arts and participatory experiences. It’s an honour for the University to play a major role in supporting what is a leading highlight of the region’s cultural calendar and we are delighted to be hosting key events at Attenborough Arts Centre as well as providing learning and skills development opportunities for students.”
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Inspirate, which runs the festival, Jiten Anand, said: “The University of Leicester was our festival’s first-ever sponsor in 2012, and it’s a poetic moment to partner with the University after 15 years.
“We would like to share a massive thank you to the University of Leicester and Attenborough Arts Centre for supporting An Indian Summer and providing the opportunity to engage with the many international students who are studying here.
“Collaborations like this are essential to Leicester’s civic identity – bridging arts, education and student engagement through our renewed cultural partnership.”
The festival will once again transform Leicester city centre, with events across Jubilee Square and Leicester Cathedral.
Audiences can expect premieres, headline productions and visually striking outdoor performances, alongside stories from artists whose work reflects contemporary South Asian diaspora experiences.
The full programme of events will be announced soon. Visit the website for more details.