MAC BIRMINGHAM

From our Allies in the far off land of… Birmingham.

Every sari has a story, and we’re sharing yours.

Presented by Midlands Arts Centre and Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage, Sari Stories shares joyful and moving reflections on the sari, submitted through an open call by individuals across the Midlands.

From climbing mountains and running marathons in saris, to hand crafted saris passed down through family, to expressions of gender and queer identity explored through the beautiful material, this exhibition weaves together a rich collection of stories.

Sari Stories is part of Sari Season at MAC, June–Nov 2025.

Kindly made possible by Arts Council England and players of People's Postcode Lottery.

The Offbeat Sari by Himanshu Verma is a testament to the LGBTQ+ agenda of visibility, self-expression, and resistance to rigid gender norms. By re-imagining the sari beyond tradition, Verma uses it as a vibrant symbol of inclusivity, and the freedom to inhabit one’s identity with pride and creativity. Himanshu is proudly redifining visibility amongst the definitions of tradition.