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For all the latest news from the Nottingham Asian Arts Council

Hi there,

Welcome to another edition of our NAAC e-alert to keep you informed of up-coming events.

Mrs. Jai Verma... It is with deep sorrow to announce that Mrs Jai Verma passed away on Wednesday April 23 after a short illness. She was 75. Sincere and heartfelt condolences to all the family of Mrs Jai Verma from the Board and staff of NAAC. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time and may her soul rest in eternal peace and the Almighty give her family and friends the strength to cope with their sad loss. Mrs. Verma had served the Nottingham Asian Arts Association (NAAC) for more than 20 years, was a trustee of NAAC and also served as Chairperson.  Mrs. Verma was passionate about Asian Arts and Cultural activities and her contribution made the organisation stronger. At public events she was always present to lend a hand in whatever needed to be done – from staffing the ticket sales desk, to helping in the changing rooms, to compering the events. She was always one of the first to offer her help at the NAAC Music & Dance Academy and anywhere else that help was needed e.g. Nottingham Mela, NAAC Diwali, Vaisakhi, Eid etc. Mrs Verma volunteered for alot of Nottingham's Asian community organisations and was still very actively involved with most of them. Mrs Verma has left a great void at the NAAC and will be dearly missed by all the Board and staff of NAAC as well as by all members of the community from across Nottinghamshire. May her soul rest in eternal peace. ******************************************************************** With love from Mrs Vermas family: Roopam, Vipin, Tony, Brid, Ellie, Niamh and Tara: Born in Jiwana, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1950, Jai Verma moved to the UK with her infant daughter, Roopam, in 1971, following her husband Mahipal, who had taken up a job offer in the North East. She would subsequently have a son, Vipin, and began her career as a writer that spanned, and drew together, continents. Her work, especially over the last two decades, has been substantial and increasingly influential. She co-founded Kavya Rang Multilingual Writing Group in 2003, created to build bridges between cultures while celebrating South Asian literary voices. The group has held countless Kavi Samellens across Nottinghamshire since then, drawing diverse voices together and celebrating our shared humanity. These celebrations exemplified Jai’s ethos: a belief that words bring worlds together. India or England, Byron or Tagore: to her, they had more in common than in difference. This made her a hugely important voice not just in the two countries she called home, but globally,as evidenced by the wide range of conferences she addressed over the decades. She was a leading voice in Nottingham’s campaign to be a UNESCO City of Literature, and a fragment of her poetry is immortalised on the new Nottingham Central Library. While her professional career and influence have been immense, she will be remembered by those who knew her for her love. She cherished her children and grandchildren, and was an ‘auntie’ to all. She had friends who adored her across the world, not just for her work but the kindness that shone from her. She lit many candles in many minds, and many candles in many hearts. While we are devastated to announce her flame is now gone, we know the flames it lit burn on bright.

After a very successful and Sold Out Holi in the Park event, we are looking forward to the Vaisakhi in the Park event on Sunday 11 May 2025, from 12pm-5pm. Please let us know if you'd like to volunteer at this and our future events...

To register as a Volunteer please use this link:

NAAC Events Support Volunteer | Nottingham Together Volunteering

NAAC Music & Dance Academy

Our NAAC Music & Dance Academy classes take place every Wednesday from 5:30pm-8:00pm @ Radford Academy, Denman Street West, Radford, Nottingham NG7 3FL.Come join us, for fitness, Yoga & Wellbeing at Wollaton and Newstead; or come along to learn a new dance move, an instrument, singing, make new friends and have some fun.  Our Academy students are given the opportunity to participate at loads of local events organised by NAAC and other organisations...so come along and be that budding star!  Many thanks to all our Academy students, tutors and artists who performed at the Holi in the Park event in Nottingham. Everyone enjoyed the performances and we got lots of positive feedback from all.  For full details, use this link to download the poster... Registration Form... April - July 2025 Term Dates... For directions to the Academy use this link..

Vaisakhi in the Park - Sunday 11 May 2025

LESS THAN 2 WEEKS TILL VAISAKHI IN THE PARK 🙌

CAMA SOOD HARA, The Arc Cinema Beeston on 8th May 2025 @7:30pm.

Songs of the Mystics

Qawwal Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers

Traditional Sufi Qawwali

More Event Dates For Your Diary 2025...

We are planning lots of creative and cultural activities across the year encompassing art, poetry, creative writing, yoga, specialist tours, films, festivals and holistic health & well being activities like regular nature walks, meditation, etc.

Please get in touch with NAAC if you are interested in the regular walks or any of the activities mentioned...

For now...Save the following dates in your diary, of events that are being planned to take place at Wollaton Park. More details will be confirmed soon...

• Gujarat Day - Saturday 10^th May 2025, Hindu Temple Nottingham
• Bollywood Night - Friday 30th May 2025, The Birks, Horse and Jockey, 1 Mill St, Old Basford, Nottingham NG6 0JW
• Chariot Festival – Sunday 8^th June 2025, Old Market Square
• Eid In The Park – Saturday 14^th June 2025, Formal Gardens Wollaton Park. More Details: www.wollatonhall.org.uk/eid
• International Day of Yoga – Sunday 22^nd June 2025, Formal Gardens Wollaton Park. More Details: www.wollatonhall.org.uk/international-day-of-yoga 
• England v India Women’s IT20 – Saturday 28^th June 2025, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
• Gujarati drama, Parnelani Punchadi Vanki - Friday 18^th July 2025, 7.30pm, Hindu Temple Nottingham
• CommuniTree Festival – Sunday 10^th August and Sunday 17^th August 2025, Formal Gardens Wollaton Park     
• Ganesh Chaturthi/ Ganesh Festival – Saturday 6^th September 2025, Location TBC
• Nottingham Mela In The Park – Sunday 14^th September 2025, Formal Gardens Wollaton Park     
• Diwali Date TBC at Castle 
• Yoga & Wellbeing at Wollaton Park – First Sunday of each Month, 10am–11.30am
• Yoga & Wellbeing Newstead Abbey – Third Sunday of each Month, 10am–11.00am

NAAC Membership

NAAC occasionally organise events at short notice, in particular where there is a guest artist or performer from abroad and we try our hardest to publicise these events as widely as possible, but to ensure that you do not miss out please regularly check your emails from us, if you are a member! If you are not a member please consider joining us...

Individual Membership

Membership Fee for 2 Years: £10.00

Life Membership: £100.00 Individuals £150.00 Couples £50.00 Over 60’s

Organisation Membership

Membership Fee for 2 Years: £20.00

Corporate Membership: £1000.00

Any feedback on the e-alerts and suggestions on what you, our readers would like to see in future editions is always welcome…

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Nottingham Asian Arts Association (NAAC),

Communities Courtyard, Wollaton Road, Wollaton Park, Nottingham NG8 2AD

Email: nina.virdi@nottinghamcity.gov.uk and bhavesh.jani@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Tel: 0115 876 5589 / 0115 876 5590

Nina Mob: 07944 051187 | Bhavesh Mob: 07792 247331