Meet Yasmin Whittaker-Khan

Yasmin Whittaker-Khan is a deeply committed youth worker, writer, presenter, social activist, and theatre-maker. For over two decades she has been supporting young people while also writing provocative and socially conscious work. Kali Theatre+2vilearts.blogspot.com+2

Her writing spans plays, poetry, and screen: her acclaimed play Bells exposed the under-explored world of mujra (courtesan) culture and premiered at the Birmingham Rep. Telegraph+1 She has also written and produced short films such as Lemon Juke Box, Le Grand Jour and Jihad Of The Mind. vilearts.blogspot.com

Yasmin’s work is grounded in rigorous social research and lived experience. Through her storytelling and activism, she gives voice to marginalized communities, explores identity, and challenges entrenched stereotypes. Her commitment to cultural dialogue, social justice, and youth empowerment continues to shape the mission of Insaan Arts.

Organisation Description

Insaan Arts

Insaan Arts is a community-focused arts organisation working across music, performance, film, literature and live cultural events. Rooted in South Asian and diaspora heritage, the organisation creates high-quality artistic experiences that are accessible, welcoming and socially engaged, particularly for communities and voices that are under-represented within mainstream cultural spaces.

Insaan Arts is committed to working with progressive practitioners whose work reflects values of equality, inclusion and cultural integrity. The organisation actively supports women and LGBTQI+ artists and audiences, creating spaces where identity, expression and difference are respected and celebrated. Through music, arts and culture, Insaan Arts raises awareness of social issues affecting contemporary communities, using creativity as a means of dialogue, reflection and connection rather than instruction or advocacy alone.

A defining feature of Insaan Arts’ practice is its interest in taking the conventional and placing it within unconventional contexts. Traditional art forms — including classical and folk music, storytelling and ritual performance — are presented in community venues and informal settings, allowing audiences to encounter familiar heritage in new ways. This approach enables communities to engage with new ideas and experiences without cultural or social barriers, encouraging curiosity, openness and exchange.

Past activity has included live music and performance programmes celebrating South Asian musical lineages; intergenerational events bringing elders, young people and families together through shared cultural memory; film screenings and facilitated discussions exploring migration, faith, gender, identity and belonging; and curated talks and creative forums connecting artists, academics and community audiences. Across this work, emerging artists have been supported to perform alongside established practitioners, gaining confidence, skills and professional experience within supportive, values-led environments.

Insaan Arts has also contributed to heritage-led recording and archival projects, cross-disciplinary collaborations between musicians, writers and filmmakers, and informal learning opportunities that demystify arts engagement for first-time or infrequent audiences. Activity is intentionally secular, inclusive and accessible, welcoming people who may engage with culture primarily through recordings, television or family traditions rather than formal arts institutions.

Looking ahead, Insaan Arts will continue to develop community-based festivals and touring programmes, new commissions and collaborations with international and UK-based artists, and artist development and learning initiatives that support sustainable creative pathways. Future work will further strengthen opportunities for communities to meet like-minded people, enjoy shared heritage and identity, exchange experiences, and participate in cultural activity that reflects the complexity and richness of contemporary Britain.