Mukhtar Dar:
With over three decades in the arts and culture sector, Mukhtar Dar is a versatile professional, excelling as a visual artist, filmmaker, creative producer, festival organiser, and artistic director. His career showcases artistic excellence, project management expertise, and financial acumen. Mukhtar has cultivated strong relationships with artists, arts organisations, funders, and stakeholders, demonstrating adeptness in community engagement.
As an activist and cultural leader, Mukhtar employs his creative skills in the service of social justice. He co-founded the Sheffield Asian Youth Movement, Pakistani Workers Association, Black Peoples Alliance, and the South Asian Alliance. Mukhtar’s archive documents Asian and African Caribbean communities’ struggles against racism. With a BA (Hons) in Fine Arts and Media Studies, he specialises in painting, printmaking, photography, installations, and filmmaking. Mukhtar continues to create innovative multidisciplinary projects recognised for high production values and challenging themes.
Dr. Ian Sergeant:
Dr. Ian Sergeant, a curator-researcher, holds a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the Decolonising Arts Institute, University of the Arts London. His academic journey includes notable achievements such as curatorship for the Coventry Biennial and research assistance at Birmingham City University.
Ian’s academic pursuits include an MA in Contemporary Curatorial Practice from Birmingham City University and a practice-based PhD focused on “Visual Representations and Cultural (Re)Constructions of Black British Masculinities in 21st Century Birmingham.” His curated exhibitions, like “Reimaging Donald Rodney” at Vivid Projects (2016) and “Interference:s” at the Coventry Biennial (2021), highlight diverse narratives. Ian is involved with New Art West Midlands, Film Hub Midlands, and serves on the board of directors for Vivid Projects. He is also a member of the Blk Art Group Research Project.
Dr. Bob Ramdhanie:
Bob Ramdhanie has been a prominent figure in the UK arts scene for over four decades. His extensive educational background spans Electrical Engineering, Social Work, an MBA, and a PhD in Caribbean Studies. Throughout his career, Bob has been instrumental in initiating and developing arts programmes within local communities and has made significant contributions to various arts festivals.
Bob’s dedication to fostering diverse arts practices is evident in his work within the realms of ‘black arts’ across Africa and the Caribbean. He is the founder of the Kokuma Dance Company and served as the inaugural Director of the Black Dance Development Trust. Additionally, in his role as a Senior Probation Officer, Bob utilised the arts as a means to facilitate positive change. He co-founded the a cappella quintet Black Voices and was instrumental in establishing Birmingham’s first dedicated Black art centre, The Cave. Bob also played a pivotal role in driving the establishment of the Drums Art Centre and later the Centre for Music Arts & Technology. Throughout his career, Bob held senior positions in organisations such as Birmingham City Council and the Arts Council, where he made significant contributions to African and Caribbean arts and education on both national and international levels.
Simon Duggal:
Simon Duggal is a celebrated music producer, composer, and educator with over three decades in the music industry. Renowned for his versatility and innovation, Simon has produced and composed records for a diverse array of global artists, including Shania Twain, Maxi Priest, Apache Indian, Janet Kaye, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and many more. His production and composition credits include Apache Indian’s triple platinum album “No Reservations” and Shania Twain’s Grammy-nominated, 11x platinum-selling album “Up,” which sold over 25 million copies worldwide. Simon’s impact extends beyond music production into advertising, television, film, and theater, where his compositions have featured in international films like New York Minute and adverts for prominent brands like Pepsi, Intel, Toshiba and Etihad. His work has garnered multiple accolades, including Grammy, Brit Award, and Mercury Music Prize nominations, as well as the honor of being the first Sony Music UK songwriter to earn an Ivor Novello Award nomination.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Simon is a dedicated mentor and educator, committed to nurturing the next generation of music producers. He authored “Record, Mix and Master – A Beginner’s Guide to Audio Production“, a practical guide to professional audio production published by Palgrave Macmillan. As a mentor to MA students at BIMM University and a sought-after guest speaker at universities and colleges across the UK, Simon offers invaluable industry insights, teaching students how to refine their production skills and build sustainable careers in music. His ongoing contributions to education, combined with his distinguished production career, cement his status as a trailblazer in the field.