About KALA Arts

Based in Leicester city, Kala Arts CIC began in 2023with a mission to empower communities through creativity.

We offer workshops and projects that promote collaboration and diversity, focusing on accessible, inclusive opportunities for creative expression across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

We engage marginalised groups and create spaces for all backgrounds to explore art while prioritising sustainability and eco-friendly practices. With a trauma-informed, person-centered approach, Kala Arts collaborates with local and national partners to promote equity and cultural dialogue, empowering individuals to realise their potential and amplify their stories through art.

Our Journey

Kala Arts CIC was founded in March 2023 with the mission of empowering communities through creativity and fostering sustainable practices. Within a few months of inception, we secured a studio space at the LCB Depot in September 2023, marking a significant milestone in establishing our presence in the heart of Leicester’s cultural quarter.

Our early success included the Material Girls Pilot, a series of workshops fully funded by the Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation (LRCF). This initiative encouraged young women to explore furniture upcycling, blending creativity with sustainability.

In 2024, Kala Arts expanded its reach with the launch of Cultural Quarter Earlies, delivering monthly film-inspired workshops designed to engage families and new audiences. We collaborated with key organisations such as Talent 25, 2Funky Arts, Opal 22, Bring the Paint, the Riverside Festival, and Leicester Galleries and Museums, solidifying our reputation as a dynamic force in Leicester’s arts scene.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are proud to deliver the Challenge Upcycle Workshops, fully funded by the DMU Community Foundation and the Community Fund. These workshops will empower participants to transform household items, promote sustainability, and develop new skills, reflecting Kala Arts’ commitment to accessible, meaningful, and environmentally conscious creative opportunities.

From our modest beginnings to an exciting future, Kala Arts CIC continues to grow as a hub for creativity, collaboration, and community impact.

Meet the KALA Team

  • Sim Seema Mistry

    FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

    I am a British, Kenyan, South-Asian Multidisciplinary Community Artist. With a background in teaching, I have developed a trauma-informed, young person-centred participatory practice that spans a range of mediums including paint, clay, and dry media.

    I work in collaboration with community members from diverse backgrounds to co-create art that empowers, ignites, and inspires. My practice is rooted in lived experience — drawing deeply from the human experience, personal and collective trauma, and the healing potential of creativity. Art saved my life, and I am committed to sharing that transformative power with others — particularly with those who have historically been excluded from creative spaces due to marginalisation and intersectionality.

    I am passionate about the environment, and I hope to share my love of making, being creative, and exploring without expectations with people from all walks of life. My aim is always to foster spaces where people feel seen, heard, and free to express their stories — because I believe that everyone deserves access to the life-affirming power of art.

  • Leonie DuBarry-Gurr

    MARKETING

    Accessibility and inclusivity are at the centre of everything I do and I hold a fervent commitment to anti- racist and anti-ableist practices. I am dedicated to challenging barriers faced in the arts and am passionate about contributing to an arts culture that empowers ones identity, with a priority consideration for neurodiverse, Global Majority, and disabled artists.

    I am deeply connected to the grass-roots creative networks within Leicester’s diverse arts and music community and have exclusively worked on projects that uplift underrepresented voices and ensure equitable representation in workshops, exhibitions and events. I consistently advocate for inclusivity, with a goal to build partnerships and spaces that champion diverse and underrepresented artists to support positive and proud creative growth.

    I am excited about the opportunity to support Kala Arts’ dynamic, impactful and much needed projects,

  • Charlotte Hewitt

    FINANCE DIRECTOR

    Charlotte brings together her background in theatre and a strong foundation in finance to support the organisation’s creative and financial goals.

    “With a Master’s degree in Performance Art, I began my career immersed in the arts, gaining invaluable insight into the creative sector before transitioning to the financial industry.

     Over the past five years, I’ve built a solid reputation in financial management, specialising in budgeting, strategic planning, and sustainable growth. My unique combination of artistic understanding and financial expertise allows her to navigate the complexities of leading an arts organisation with both creativity and precision.

    At Kala Arts, I plays a vital role in ensuring the organisation’s long-term success, blending passion for the arts with a commitment to sound financial strategy. My leadership drives Kala Arts’ mission to innovate and inspire while maintaining a strong, sustainable foundation.”

  • Julie Hogarth

    I am a passionate advocate for community engagement and collaboration, currently residing in Cumbria but having spent the last 30 years in Leicester. I am dedicated to promoting inclusive environments and have been working within the strategic planning and governance of Kala Arts, celebrating the transformative power of creativity to empower individuals and communities.

    At Kala Arts, I am driven by the belief that every participant has a unique contribution to make. I focus on creating collaborative experiences that celebrate the richness of our collective efforts, where individuals can develop skills that transcend artistic expression and positively impact their lives and communities.

    I am committed to ensuring that our initiatives reflect a spirit of inclusivity and creativity, nurturing a space where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. Together, we can shape a vibrant community that thrives on shared experiences and collective achievement

"Creativity is intelligence having fun," by Albert Einstein