FROM humble beginnings in a small room in Northam teaching South Asian music, he led Art Asia to become one of the city’s cultural leaders.

Now Vinod Desai MBE is to leave the organisation he founded after 36 years at the helm.

This weekend’s flagship Mela Festival will be the final curtain for the chief executive.

Art Asia presented the first Southampton Mela Festival back in 2001 and it has grown to become the city’s biggest free festival, attracting over 25,000 people each summer in recent years.

Chair of the Board of Directors / Trustees, Dahlia Jamil said: “Vinod leaves a great legacy behind him. Over the years Vinod’s passion and dedication has built a unique arts organisation that has supported and encouraged many talented individuals.

“Under his custodianship Art Asia has gone from strength to strength promoting South Asian Arts to a wide and diverse audience. We wish Vinod every success in his future endeavours and look forward to welcoming a new Creative Director to Art Asia to carry forward Art Asia’s mission”.

Vinod said “We have just received news of four years funding from Arts Council England and with Art Asia’s future renewed it feels the right time to invite new creative vision to take Art Asia through to 2022.

“It has been an amazing 36 years, with many amazing people. Thank you to all our staff and trustees past and present, thank you to our funders and partners, it has been a pleasure working with you all. Most of all and at the heart of Art Asia has been our members, audiences and participants, thank you for your support and friendship.”

As well as the Southampton Mela Festival, Art Asia has presented large-scale performances like Bollywood Baraat, 30 Ragas in 30 Days and Giant Rangoli.

Since the beginning Art Asia has run classes in South Asian music and dance giving people the opportunity to explore their heritage or be introduced to new cultures.

Many musicians, dancers and actors started their careers with Art Asia and have gone on to have great success around the world. Vinod now plans to explore his own musical interests and spend more time with his grandchildren.