Celebrating Newham’s Diverse Musical Story MAUK is delighted to share that Kerala House, our long-standing community centre in Manor Park, has been prominently featured in Sound Waves: Music in Newham—a borough-wide heritage initiative supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project documents over 60 years of musical traditions in Newham, capturing the voices, sounds and stories of communities who have shaped its rich cultural identity.
A Cultural Home for Kerala’s Art Forms
Kerala House was selected for its significant contribution to Newham’s arts and cultural landscape.
For many years, the centre has been a vibrant space where children, young people and adults learn:
- Dravidian music
- Classical and folk dance
- Devotional and traditional singing
- Other Kerala art forms and community performance
These programmes help preserve Kerala’s artistic heritage, while also nurturing confidence, cultural identity and intergenerational connections within our community.
Documenting Our Story
As part of the project, the Sound Waves team spent time at Kerala House capturing:
- Interviews with MAUK volunteers
- Photographs of cultural activities
- Footage of music and dance performances
- Stories of how Kerala House has grown into a cultural landmark in Newham
Their feature highlights the vital role that grassroots, migrant-led organisations play in shaping the borough’s cultural and musical history.
A Proud Moment for MAUK
We are honoured to see Kerala House recognised in such an important heritage project. Our sincere thanks to the Sound Waves: Music in Newham team and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for acknowledging the value of our work and ensuring the stories of communities like ours are preserved for future generations.
