A group of Coventry-based volunteers have shared their stories of British South Asian culture as part of a major exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
‘Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’ traces more than 50 years of South Asian life in the UK through four immersive rooms inspired by the real experiences of one Coventry family. Since opening in November, it has welcomed thousands of visitors.
A team of seven South Asian Cultural Ambassadors have contributed their voices and personal histories to the exhibition as part of a partnership between Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and Coventry Archives, which aims to bring stories of identity, belonging and migration to life.
The group, which has been meeting monthly to share and record oral histories which appear in the exhibition, includes Prashant Kansara, Priti Kansara, Ayisha Abraham, as well as Jitey Samra, Mehru Fitter MBE, Suminder Virk and Kauser Husain.
Visitors can hear their voices in key parts of the show, including the “passport control” room setting, where people describe what it felt like arriving in Britain, and in sound installations exploring what it means to be British South Asian across generations.
The ambassadors’ stories reflect the diversity of Coventry’s South Asian communities, with roots spanning India, Kenya, other parts of Africa and South Asia and the wider diaspora. Together, they explore migration journeys, first impressions of Britain, and how language and attitudes around belonging often repeat across decades.
Jitey Samra, who has worked in mental health services in Coventry, said sharing lived experiences can help create understanding.
She said: “I grew up thinking many of the struggles I heard about in my family were in the past. But listening to people’s stories made me realise how much prejudice and inequality was still happening, often quietly, behind closed doors. When people hear these experiences, it creates empathy and helps explain behaviour, trauma and identity in a much deeper way.
“Hearing more about people’s lives in the UK can help to create bonds and build bridges across communities, and that’s why this exhibition is so powerful, and why it’s important we hear more stories from families in Coventry.”
Ayisha Abraham, who was born in London in the 1960s and later left Britain with her family following Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, said the exhibition feels especially relevant now.
She said: “There’s something uncanny about how these stories repeat themselves. The language around who belongs and who doesn’t, feels uncomfortably familiar. What this exhibition does so powerfully is place an intimate family story inside a much bigger historical framework, making global forces human and emotional.
“There is so much that will resonate with you in unexpected ways. That’s why it’s an unmissable exhibition for people regardless of their background, and why I think so many people feel compelled to speak about it after seeing it.”
Coventry-born visual artist Prashant Kansara said being involved had changed how he understood his own memories of growing up in the city.
He said: “These were objects and experiences I grew up with but took for granted, or even felt embarrassed by. Seeing them collected and celebrated made me realise they weren’t just personal, they held history.
“This exhibition gives value to memories many of us thought were just everyday incidents, and shows they were part of something much bigger. It’s an incredible platform to build connection and I can’t wait to see what other people make of it.”
Coventry is home to one of the UK’s most established South Asian communities, with 18.5 per cent of residents identifying as Asian or Asian British – around double the national average.
The exhibition draws on Hardish Virk’s ‘Stories That Made Us’ archive and Coventry Archives’ Virk Collection, bringing together photographs, books, magazines, posters, vinyl records, cassettes and personal memorabilia. These sit alongside oral histories, radio broadcasts, music and film to bring the nuanced stories of South Asian communities to life.
Shaniece Martin, who coordinates the South Asian Cultural Ambassadors programme, said the ambassador scheme was designed to ensure a range of South Asian voices were embedded in the exhibition.
She said: “When people hear real stories of migration and identity, it becomes much harder to rely on stereotypes. Visitors hear what it felt like to step off the plane, the shock of arrival, and how identity is shaped over time. These experiences aren’t just history, they’re still shaping lives today.
“Now that the exhibition is open, the focus is on encouraging more people from South Asian backgrounds to get involved by visiting the exhibition, sharing reflections, and contributing their own stories to Coventry Archives to help build a lasting record of South Asian life in the city.”
The programme is hosted by Coventry Archives as part of the ‘Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’ exhibition, conceived and co-curated by artist and curator Hardish Virk in partnership with the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
‘Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’ is on display at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum until 25 May 2026.
All Images by: Ayeesha Jones