Sensasian
A celebration of South Asian arts and culture, shaped with and for communities across Stoke-on-Trent.
Created in partnership with our lead organisation New Vic Theatre, Sensasian brings a vibrant, high-quality programme to the stage, from comedy and dance to music, theatre and family events.
More than an event
Sensasian grew out of Appetite’s commitment to working with diverse communities to make culture feel welcoming, relevant and close to home.
Through collaboration with local South Asian communities, we heard a call for more representation, more opportunities for artists and more chances to experience this work locally.
How does Sensasian get made?
Each year, a group of community decision-makers helps build the programme –reviewing artists, sharing ideas and guiding everything from the line-up to how the event looks and feels. Their voices sit at the heart of Sensasian, ensuring it stays relevant, exciting and rooted in the community.
How did Sensasian begin?
The journey started in 2017 with Settling, a photography project by Sam Ivin. Sam created a display exploring migration into the area for The Big Feast that year as part of a three-month residency with Appetite and GRAIN.
Relationships built through that work led to Punjab to the Potteries in 2022, capturing stories of people with roots in the Punjab who came to work in the local ceramics industry.
In 2023, Sensasian emerged as the next step, broadening the focus to celebrate the richness and diversity of South Asian arts and culture today.
