On 20 May 2023, the Punjabi Migration to Wolverhampton exhibition was officially launched at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, bringing together participants, volunteers and members of the local Punjabi community to celebrate a project co-created and co-produced by the Citizen UK Researchers.
The exhibition was developed through a collaboration between the National Portrait Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and BCVA, with local volunteers from the Punjabi diaspora playing a central role in shaping the work. At the launch event, participants and researchers took centre stage, reflecting the community-led nature of the project.
The evening featured a range of performances and contributions from participants whose stories form part of the exhibition. Kuli Kohli, Wolverhampton’s first disabled South Asian Poet Laureate, shared powerful poetry reflecting on Punjabi migration and identity. The celebration continued with music from Kash and his brother, former members of the influential Wolverhampton-based Bhangra band Azaad, who delighted audiences with their performance. Participant Mak Singh also brought the evening to life, getting visitors dancing in the gallery foyer — a memorable first for the space.
The exhibition has been warmly received by both the community and organisations across the city and was officially opened by Mayor Michael Hardacre, marking an important moment of recognition for Punjabi migration histories in Wolverhampton.
As lead artist on the project, Anand Chhabra worked closely with the Citizen UK Researchers over several months, supporting volunteers through training in photography, oral history recording and archival research. Together, the team developed an exhibition that celebrates the stories, experiences and contributions of Punjabi communities in the city.
It was particularly meaningful to see how the exhibition resonated with visitors from the Punjabi community, demonstrating how arts and heritage projects can create spaces where communities see their histories recognised and valued.
BCVA would like to extend sincere thanks to the teams at Wolverhampton Art Gallery for their warm hospitality and support in hosting the event, and to our lead partners at the National Portrait Gallery for their commitment to enabling genuine co-creation and collaboration with local researchers.
After many months of hard work from volunteers, participants and partners, it was a joy to celebrate the exhibition together with the community. We will be sharing more reflections and insights from the project in future posts.
