Spotlight on Arts with Sim Mistry
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The latest episode of Spotlight on Arts brings a conversation between John Coster and Sim Mistry of Kala Arts, exploring creativity, community engagement, and the importance of making artistic expression accessible to all. Sim reflects on her journey as a creative practitioner, tracing her early fascination with storytelling and illustration back to childhood summers spent immersed in imaginative worlds. That ability to lose oneself in a creative flow, she explains, is something she strives to help others rediscover, particularly through her work in community workshops.
A key theme in the discussion is the role of permission in creativity.
Sim observes that many adults, regardless of age or background, are often waiting for encouragement to embrace creativity without fear of judgment. Whether working with young people or community members, she aims to create spaces where exploration is valued over perfection, allowing people to take risks and reconnect with the joy of making something new. John and Sim reflect on how this mirrors the experience many had during lockdown, when people reconnected with hobbies and creative pursuits in a way that wasn’t tied to external validation.
The conversation also touches on the challenges of sustaining creative work, particularly in relation to funding. Sim speaks candidly about the difficulty of aligning funding applications with the work artists actually want to do, rather than bending practice to fit short-term financial priorities. She highlights the need for longer-term support that enables artists to develop their craft and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Her own career has spanned roles in education, community arts, and outreach, demonstrating how creative engagement can take many forms. From her role at Phoenix Leicester, where she works to diversify audiences, to her involvement in Drum and Brass, which promotes inclusive access to music, Sim’s work consistently centres on making creativity an open and accessible process.
Her experience as a design and technology teacher has informed her approach, particularly in recognising how practical, hands-on creativity can offer young people a different way to engage with learning. She speaks about the satisfaction of seeing students experience that ‘penny drop’ moment when they grasp a concept through making. The ability to bring multiple disciplines together, whether through art, music, or craft, can open up new ways of thinking and build confidence.
The discussion takes a personal turn as Sim reflects on her experiences of neurodiversity, describing how understanding her way of working has allowed her to embrace a career, that involves wearing many hats, rather than being confined to a single role. She has also used this understanding to support others, signposting information to those who may be navigating similar challenges.
The episode concludes with an insight into her latest creative venture, stepping into the world of music with the punk band Visceral Vessels. This new outlet has allowed her to revisit poetry she wrote as a teenager and bring it to life in a different form, reinforcing the idea that creativity is an evolving process rather than a fixed destination.
Throughout the discussion, Sim’s passion for fostering creativity in others is evident. Whether through hands-on workshops, public art installations, or performance, her work demonstrates the transformative power of creative practice in helping people express themselves, build confidence, and connect with others.
John and Sim leave listeners with a compelling reflection on the need for more sustainable support for artists and creative practitioners, ensuring that opportunities for artistic engagement remain available to both children and adults alike.
