You can access the Club Kali Archive collection both online and in person at Bishopsgate Institute, London.

The Club Kali Collection documents the history and heritage of the UK’s longest-running space for LGBTQ+ South Asian communities, preserved through the Where East Meets West (WEMW) project (2023-26). Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, the project brings together oral histories, photographs, flyers, newsletters, digital media and community-donated memorabilia that span three decades of cultural expression, resilience and queer joy.

Founded in 1995 by Rita Hirani OBE and DJ Ritu MBE, Club Kali emerged as a pioneering safe space where LGBTQ+ South Asians could celebrate identity, culture and community at a time of widespread exclusion. Their vision created a home where Eastern and Western influences met on the dancefloor, shaping a vibrant cultural movement that continues to inspire generations. The collection reflects their legacy of activism, creativity and community-building, now safeguarded for long-term preservation.

Through more than thirty oral histories, the collection captures personal stories of migration, identity, nightlife, activism and belonging, offering rare insight into a community whose experiences have long been under-represented in Britain’s LGBTQ+ history. These testimonies sit alongside a rich body of visual and material culture, now safeguarded for long-term preservation.

The project’s public outputs – including a podcast series, online exhibition, learning resources and pop-up displays – interpret this heritage for wider audiences, ensuring that the creativity, solidarity and lived experiences of Club Kali’s community are accessible to researchers, educators and visitors.

Deposited at Bishopsgate Institute, the collection forms a vital record of South Asian LGBTQ+ life in Britain and a lasting legacy for future generations.