The SAF has been running for 10 years and the Birmingham edition kicked off its global expansion, with other editions planned across Delhi, Jaipur and Dubai – to name a few - culminating in the renowned event in Panjim, Goa (12–21 December).
Delivered in partnership with BCU, the festival saw performances, exhibitions, workshops and film screenings unfold at the Symphony Hall, Eastside Jazz Club and the RBC, with participation from more than 75 artists, musicians, and performers.
Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder and Patron of the Serendipity Arts Foundation, said, “This edition was more than a festival - it was a celebration of cultural dialogue and a shared creative future. Taking Serendipity to an international platform, starting with Birmingham, underscores our belief that art can transcend borders, build community, and foster empathy across continents. As we mark a decade of Serendipity, we remain committed to deepening these connections in the years to come.”
David Mba, Vice Chancellor, Birmingham City University; “We were delighted to welcome Serendipity Arts Festival to our campus and city. The four-day event was a rich showcase of creativity and artistic innovation, and our students benefited immensely from direct engagement with world-class artists, curators, and thinkers. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to being an open, inclusive, and globally connected institution.”
The programme was carefully curated to resonate with Birmingham’s local communities while showcasing the depth and diversity of Indian artistic traditions. Audiences were immersed in music, archives, literature, visual art, comedy, and cinema - there were evocative concerts and archival exhibitions as well as interactive workshops and film screenings.
Highlights across the weekend included:-
- Scoring to Picture, a film music composition workshop by Zubin Balaporia and Sameer Patwardhan exclusively for RBC students.
- The screening of The Speaking Hand, a documentary on Zakir Hussain’s life and legacy, which concluded with a conversation between director Sumantra Ghosal and curator (and BCU senior lecturer) Dharmesh Rajput.
- Poet and BCU Professor, Greg Leadbetter delivered a poetry reading evening, using his own work alongside French Basque poet Julie Irigary and New Delhi-based writer Uttaran Das Gupta.
- Sempre Fado, a cross-cultural concert blending Portuguese-Goan melodies with contemporary arrangements, curated by Zubin Balaporia and performed at RBC’s Bradshaw Hall.
- Banda Brasileira, an ensemble of RBC students directed by Shanti Jayasinha, which brought Brazilian musical traditions to life.
- A spirited performance by the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, the UK’s largest folk band led by Joe Broughton, followed by An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy with Brummie comedian, Shazia Mirza, headlining.
Across all four days, there were also exhibitions such as Zakir Hussain Maquette by Dayanita Singh, Eternal Echoes curated by Helen Acharya, and Gods and Gazes - a stunning reinterpretation of colonial-era Company School paintings.
Commenting on the first international leg of the festival, Smriti Rajgarhia, Director of Serendipity Arts Foundation & Festival, added, “Birmingham gave us the perfect ground to begin a global conversation – one rooted in the ethos of Serendipity, but responsive to newer conversations. Whether it was audiences engaging with archives, or musicians creating new art forms together, this edition reminded us of the power of collaboration, adaptability, and curiosity.”
For more details about the free festival and its programming throughout the year, visit https://www.serendipityartsfestival.com/