A ceremony is set to take place this weekend to celebrate Dewsbury resident, Supriya Nagarajan, being awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours 2024.
The Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Edmund Anderson CBE, will be presenting Supriya with the medal, to celebrate Nagarajan’s outstanding contributions to the arts industry through her work with Manasamitra.
The free event will take place on Sunday 20 October 2024, at White Rose Park in Leeds.
Supriya, founder and CEO of the arts organization Manasamitra, blends her South Indian classical vocal expertise with various world music genres, creating unique compositions and performances.
Her work has taken her to renowned venues such as London’s Southbank Centre and music festivals in Australia. Known for her unconventional approach, Supriya often performs in non-traditional spaces, aiming to engage diverse audiences and deliver distinctive cultural experiences.
Supriya is also dedicated to nurturing the next generation of artists. Through Manasamitra, she supports over 40 local and national artists and serves as an active mentor in her community. Manasamitra’s mentoring program, backed by the Performing Rights Society Fund and Arts Council England, has enabled her to mentor numerous women from minority backgrounds in the arts industry, offering guidance to help them achieve their goals.
Supriya will be performing at the event alongside award-winning harpist, Lucy Nolan, who she collaborated with on the live jazz improvisation project, Sonic Threads, last year.
Meanwhile speakers at the event will include chairperson Anna Bowman from the Manasamitra board, alongside Supriya’s son Dr Vikram Nagarajan and collaborators Lucy Nolan and Duncan Chapman.
Speaking about the event, Supriya said: “It will be incredible to have my family, friends, and everyone connected with Manasamitra join us for a celebration of all the hard work which has taken place over the past few years.
“Receiving the BEM in June was a huge honour, and I’m proud to have the chance to be presented with the medal in front of those closest to me, as well as the people who’ve been working hard to make Manasamitra what it is today.
“The event will be a very special occasion, with performances from both myself and Lucy Nolan and Duncan Chapman who I regularly collaborate with. It’s a great opportunity to recognise not just my own achievements, but the amazing achievements of Manasamitra and the West Yorkshire arts community as a whole.”
The ceremony is taking place at White Rose Park, Leeds, on Sunday 20 October, from 4pm till 6pm. Free tickets can be booked here.
