What ‘value’ South Asian arts in Britain?

Abstract

This article examines the historical and contemporary articulation of the ‘value’ of South Asian Arts in Britain. Having examined the development of minority arts in Britain and in particular ‘South Asian Arts’, I examine how South Asian arts organisations have presented the ‘cultural value’ of these arts to funders and participants. Taking ‘cultural value’ to refer to the value associated with engaging with and participating in art and culture (Crossick and Kaszynska, 13) this article examines how South Asian arts in the British cultural and creative industries have been impacted by the ‘value’ agenda. I find that even though South Asian arts forms play an important role in enabling audiences who may rarely engage with the cultural industries to participate in relevant arts, South Asian arts organisations continue to be required to articulate their value primarily as part of a commitment to ‘diversity’.