Trustees
Our current Trustees include:
Shweta Kapadia - Chair of the Board
Shweta brings to Kala The Arts a wealth of Local Authority experience having been a Councillor in a Surrey Borough for 21 years. She qualified as an architect in India and has a great love and interest in both the Performing and Visual Arts.
She was on the Board of Arts Council England SE for a number of years. Currently she is Trustee of Painshill Park, Cobham; the R C Sherriff Trust which advances the Arts in Elmbridge, Surrey and the Thames Ditton Almshouse Charity. She was previously on the Board of Elmbridge Housing Trust.
Shweta fully believes that Art should be accessed and enjoyed by all and that participation in the Arts, through practice or audience participation brings not only joy but a sense of well-being. She hopes to support Kala The Arts as it goes from strength to strength bringing Indian Dance and Music to audiences far and wide.
Shweta brings to Kala The Arts a wealth of Local Authority experience having been a Councillor in a Surrey Borough for 21 years. She qualified as an architect in India and has a great love and interest in both the Performing and Visual Arts.
She was on the Board of Arts Council England SE for a number of years. Currently she is Trustee of Painshill Park, Cobham; the R C Sherriff Trust which advances the Arts in Elmbridge, Surrey and the Thames Ditton Almshouse Charity. She was previously on the Board of Elmbridge Housing Trust.
Shweta fully believes that Art should be accessed and enjoyed by all and that participation in the Arts, through practice or audience participation brings not only joy but a sense of well-being. She hopes to support Kala The Arts as it goes from strength to strength bringing Indian Dance and Music to audiences far and wide.
Raka Nandra
Raka Nandra is a Homeopathy and Herbal consultant. She is very passionate about preserving the environment and coaches her clients to live in a pollution free environment eg staying away from high levels of wifi frequencies and a diet of organic raw food.
She has an interest in Indian dance and music and attends concerts regularly. She is a qualified nursery teacher and managed children of staff at BBC for 10 years running their play scheme, child care and combined that with Arts activities by local providers. She is based at West London.
Raka Nandra is a Homeopathy and Herbal consultant. She is very passionate about preserving the environment and coaches her clients to live in a pollution free environment eg staying away from high levels of wifi frequencies and a diet of organic raw food.
She has an interest in Indian dance and music and attends concerts regularly. She is a qualified nursery teacher and managed children of staff at BBC for 10 years running their play scheme, child care and combined that with Arts activities by local providers. She is based at West London.
Mike Long
Mike Long graduated from Oxford University in Mathematics honours in distinction. He has worked with various companies as a mathematical, financial modeller and Business Analyst and in the defence sector. His hobbies are various sports, reading, watching programmes with creative science fiction and comedy.
Mike Long with his financial background has been key in making some project applications, keeping KTA’s accounts and overseeing the sound financial status of the organisation.
Jini Cherian
I was introduced to Kala the Arts when I decided to take up dancing for my wellbeing and learn a new skill. I am still a student of Odissi. After 2 years, I started volunteering for the organisation for events and slowly got involved in other aspects of volunteering like meeting with the council to understand more about the organisation.
I also at times help out with classes, engage with children and their families, be part of the work we do with schools, advice on school governance, help and support events like the Basingstoke Festival and Deepali events.
I am passionate about the role of arts and its importance in both physical and mental well-being.
I am excited for Kala to be a part of more wonderful and challenging projects.
I was introduced to Kala the Arts when I decided to take up dancing for my wellbeing and learn a new skill. I am still a student of Odissi. After 2 years, I started volunteering for the organisation for events and slowly got involved in other aspects of volunteering like meeting with the council to understand more about the organisation.
I also at times help out with classes, engage with children and their families, be part of the work we do with schools, advice on school governance, help and support events like the Basingstoke Festival and Deepali events.
I am passionate about the role of arts and its importance in both physical and mental well-being.
I am excited for Kala to be a part of more wonderful and challenging projects.
Emma Jane Raven
I have always loved to dance. Ballet, Tap, Charleston, Clog, Ballroom, rock roll, Indian dance, I've tried them all and had great fun doing it.
I have been teaching in primary schools for the past 12 years and I am presently a literacy specialist and year 6 lead. I am passionate about teaching and adamant that all learning experiences must be inspiring and engaging. I have a special interest in bringing the arts into schools, as well as getting children out to experience live art.
I have developed links with a nuber of performing arts groups in Reading over the past few years, enriching our school curriculum. Prior to working in primary education, I lectured in Fine Art and Sculpture in Further Education colleges. My own art practice as a visual artist has encompassed both Sculpture installation and performance art.
I have always loved to dance. Ballet, Tap, Charleston, Clog, Ballroom, rock roll, Indian dance, I've tried them all and had great fun doing it.
I have been teaching in primary schools for the past 12 years and I am presently a literacy specialist and year 6 lead. I am passionate about teaching and adamant that all learning experiences must be inspiring and engaging. I have a special interest in bringing the arts into schools, as well as getting children out to experience live art.
I have developed links with a nuber of performing arts groups in Reading over the past few years, enriching our school curriculum. Prior to working in primary education, I lectured in Fine Art and Sculpture in Further Education colleges. My own art practice as a visual artist has encompassed both Sculpture installation and performance art.
Haimanti Kumar
Born in West Bengal, India I graduated in Electronics Engineering (Dip) from Kolkata and completed my Masters in Hindustani Classical music. I have a deep passion for music and arts having sung in various events and acted in various dramas.
Currently I live in Southampton with my husband and 15-year-old son. A business owner by profession
of a payroll and bookkeeping firm and have a part time involvement in a group of care homes dealing
in Adults with Learning disabilities. In my spare time I host the Friday Drive time show for Unity 101 FM.
I am deeply involved with the Vedic Society Hindu temple in Southampton and am part of the 5
member Vasant Panchami cultural committee hosting the marquee annual event in the temple’s calendar.
I am very closely involved with The Hampshire Puja and Cultural Association (HPCA), a registered
charity, and have a significant role in its community and cultural activities.
My recent achievements include organising and hosting a fashion show in London for the United Kingdom Bengali Convention comprising 62 models and an audience of more than 1,000. I am also producing a Fashion Show in Southampton on the occasion of the Diwali festival, again involving more than 60 participants. Recently produced and hosted a musical evening in the MAST theatre in Southampton with over 25 musicians and singers from all genres of Indian music. I have been a volunteer for Kala The Arts since 2000 on various projects online and live large events, I have recently been involved in KTA’s 25 years celebration journey and I am proud to be involved with KTA as their trustee and want to see it move from strength to strength.
Currently I live in Southampton with my husband and 15-year-old son. A business owner by profession
of a payroll and bookkeeping firm and have a part time involvement in a group of care homes dealing
in Adults with Learning disabilities. In my spare time I host the Friday Drive time show for Unity 101 FM.
I am deeply involved with the Vedic Society Hindu temple in Southampton and am part of the 5
member Vasant Panchami cultural committee hosting the marquee annual event in the temple’s calendar.
I am very closely involved with The Hampshire Puja and Cultural Association (HPCA), a registered
charity, and have a significant role in its community and cultural activities.
My recent achievements include organising and hosting a fashion show in London for the United Kingdom Bengali Convention comprising 62 models and an audience of more than 1,000. I am also producing a Fashion Show in Southampton on the occasion of the Diwali festival, again involving more than 60 participants. Recently produced and hosted a musical evening in the MAST theatre in Southampton with over 25 musicians and singers from all genres of Indian music. I have been a volunteer for Kala The Arts since 2000 on various projects online and live large events, I have recently been involved in KTA’s 25 years celebration journey and I am proud to be involved with KTA as their trustee and want to see it move from strength to strength.
In Attendance (Outside bodies)
Councillor Jay Ganesh
Cllr Jay Ganesh was elected as Councillor for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council election held on Thursday 6th May 2021. He was elected as one of the three councillors from the Conservative Party to serve Sherborne St John and Rooksdown ward that covers villages around Sherborne St John, Monk Sherborne, Charter Ally, Ramsdell, Rooksdown, Sherborne Fields and Marnel Park in Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
Cllr Jay Ganesh has been deeply involved in the community and a keen conservationist who organise litter-picking and wildlife conservation events regularly in the neighbourhood. Cllr Jay Ganesh is currently serving as Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure since February 2022 and responsible for Development control, Local Plan, Infrastructure planning and Strategy.
Cllr Jay Ganesh was appointed as Councillor representative of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council on the Board of Kala the Arts following his election as Borough Councillor in May 2021. Since he become Councillor representative on KTA's board Cllr Jay Ganesh had helped Kala the Arts to deliver Diwali an Outdoor festival in 2021 and 2022 and actively involved in various other projects.
Honourary Adviser
Manisha Tank
Award winning presenter Manisha Tank originally from Southampton, has more than 20 years broadcast experience having worked for Reuters, the BBC and CNN International. Managing a portfolio of blue chip clients, she hosts TV, radio, podcasts and large scale live events across the Asia Pacific, Middle East and UK, both in person and virtually. Manisha developed a strong interest in Indian classical dance whilst at Sixth form college. Encouraged by her mother, she went on to try different styles including Kathak, before meeting Sushmita Pati to learn Odissi. Despite moving countries multiple times and now residing in Singapore, Manisha has managed to take part in classes and continues to support Sushmita's work at Kala the Arts."
Manisha approaches her work with intense intellectual curiosity bringing a natural and conversational style to her presentations. She anticipates audience questions and helps client’s hone both narrative and mission in their communications. She is confident, personable and deeply invested in stories that make a positive contribution to society. With a background in current affairs and finance in a fast paced news environment, she deftly weaves in contemporary thoughts and ideas during interviews, to elicit relevant, dynamic and engaging content.
In addition to her broadcasting career, Manisha is also a leadership coach, further enhancing her attentive listening skills and intuitive questioning and serves on committees for non-profits such as the Oxbridge Society of Singapore and Dover Park Hospice.