The London-based network has been uniting their multi-cultural community on the dancefloor and beyond for nearly 30 years. Club nights at their first venue The Dome ran for over 20 years, supporting the trans community famously known as the Chutney Queens.

Collecting memorabilia and oral histories

In collaboration with organisations and community groups, Club Kali Network is inviting their diverse stakeholders and supporters from all walks of life to voice their memories and ensure items from Club Kali are preserved.

Training will empower over 30 volunteers with oral history, curatorial and archival skills, who will then record and interpret 30 audio and audio-visual oral histories.

Running an environmentally-sustainable project

Club Kali will embed environmentally-friendly practices including:

• using rechargeable and recyclable materials
• using eco-friendly website hosting to reduce their carbon footprint
• providing downloadable resources
• encouraging participants to use public transport

Preserving Club Kali’s history

A pop-up and online exhibition, a podcast series and other learning resources will be produced from the memories and artefacts collected. These will later be preserved at the Bishopsgate Institute and on online platforms.

The project will hold at least 10 in-person and online activities to bring together their diverse audience to share memories of the club’s past.

Rita Hirani, Co-founder of Club Kali Network, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players. This project will create a lasting legacy that will help educate and empower British society and the next generation. It will include the public in celebrating Club Kali’s South Asian LGBTQ+ heritage.”