Your Heritage
Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidylaya (PRSSV) is a volunteer-run charitable trust based in Southall, west London. It works to give people of all walks of life a chance to experience and learn the performing arts of India. The trust is named after one of the most innovative Indian musicians of the 18th century. PRSSV worked in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Horniman Museum & Gardens. The PRSSV website goes into further details about the trust’s objectives and various activities.
PRSSV sought to engage new audiences with collections of Indian musical instruments at the museums through a variety of activities. Volunteers of all ages received training from the curators and researched the history of the instruments. They also learnt about the instruments’ restoration and conservation.
Using their new knowledge and with support from museum staff, volunteers developed trails for visitors and organised two days of talks and music performances using modern versions of the instruments on display. They produced learning resources for schools and provided training for teachers.
The project opened up the heritage of South Asian performing arts to families, many of whom were first-time visitors to the museums. It provided opportunities for volunteers to develop a wide range of skills, and encouraged PRSSV to use heritage collections in subsequent learning programmes.
A film was produced by PRSSV about their work with the Horniman Museum & Gardens. This can be viewed online on YouTube.