Beautiful things happen when different worlds meet with Farooq Chaudhry

In this episode writer and producer David Micklem talks to Farooq Chaudhry – co-founder of the world-renowned Akram Khan dance company and one of the UK’s leading producers. Through a 20 year collaboration, Farooq has built a company that has provided the optimum conditions for Akram’s development as an artist. He’s built a complex web of relationships and partnerships right across the world, blurring boundaries between cultures, artforms and styles of presentation.

He’s also the founder of Skye Blue Productions which nurtures younger artists of colour, and he’s the CEO and Creative Director for China House Arts in London.

Last year he was awarded an OBE for his services to Dance and Dance Production and was appointed a Tate Artist Trustee.

In his 60th year, we find him contemplating possible futures for arts and culture in the UK. In this podcast he talks about trusting your instincts, the need for radical change, and acknowledging and letting go of power. He talks passionately about equality, diversity and inclusion and says that beautiful things happen when different worlds meet.

Recorded remotely during Covid lockdown in Summer 2020.
 
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To read more about Akram Khan visit https://www.akramkhancompany.net/

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Edited by Marcin Pawlik with additional recording support from Mike Palmer
Produced by Claire Doherty and David Micklem

Postcards to the Future is a People Make It Work project for Culture Reset, funded by the Gulbenkian Foundation. To download a transcription of this podcast, go to culturereset.org.