Serendipity Arts Foundation is bringing flavours of the annual interdisciplinary festival – Serendipity Arts Festival – to the local Goan community with its flagship outreach initiative ‘Out and About’. They are taking performances, workshops and plays to old Goan homes, community centres across Goa, government schools, old age homes, and orphanages.
Divided into two phases, the aim of Serendipity Out and About is to take performances, workshops, conversations, and other forms of engagement from around the country to the residents of Goa for an intimate experience and to create a relationship with the community beyond the festival. Sananda Mukhopadhyaya is helming the curatorial framework for children’s programming at government schools and orphanages, whereas Quasar Thakore Padamsee has brought together the curation of performances and plays.
The first phase of the initiative is scheduled from July 25th to August 5th, and the second phase will begin from September 12th to 17th. In the first phase, the Lavani performance which is scheduled for August 4th & 5th is open to the public and all the programmes will be accessible to the public in the September edit as well.
“By bringing intimate performances to community centres and schools across the state, we are nurturing creativity beyond traditional festival boundaries. Our aim is to spread the transformative power of art to every corner of Goa, ensuring that creativity becomes a vital part of our community, not just a once-a-year event,” says Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, Serendipity Arts Festival & Foundation.
Scheduled for August 4th and 5th, 2024 at Bastora Panchayat and Community Hall and Piedade Youth Association, Divar Island, respectively, Lavani Ke Rang by B Spot Productions offers a glimpse into the lives of traditional Sangeet Bari Lavani artists from the viewpoint of a veteran Lavani theatre malkin at community centres(head). Open for public viewing, this show also celebrates many colours of life and showcases different types of mesmerising Lavani performances by traditional Sangeet Bari artists, belonging to matriarchal communities.
The 35-minute play ‘Sa Pa Re Sa Pa Sa’, commissioned by Serendipity Arts Foundation and directed by Tiny Tales Theatre Company, revolves around a household thrown into turmoil by the unexpected presence of a cobra. The play in Marathi will be presented at orphanages and schools and will be mentored by Sananda Mukhopadhyaya.
“I believe that any interaction with the arts, no matter how big or small, can have a profound impact on a child’s imagination, creativity, and overall well-being. Our programme will feature a dynamic mix of children’s theatre and art workshops, providing a platform for self-expression and creative exploration. I am also excited about the potential of ‘Out and About’ to create lasting memories and positive change, and we are committed to making many more such interventions in the future,” says Sananda Mukhopadhyaya.
An assortment of interesting plays such as Machher Jhol, Gubu Gubu and Hanv Gara Asa will be showcased, in addition to a series of engaging workshops that are aimed to propel children to move, draw and observe their everyday reality through an artistic lens.
“The Serendipity Out and About Project is very special to us. It allows us to bring activities to places that would not ordinarily be able to come to the festival. Last year, it was a small initiative to take work to people’s homes outside of Panjim. This year, it is almost like a second mini-festival.” says Quasar Thakore Padamsee.
These performances along with the subsidiary programming are designed such that they cater to the particular audience that it addresses. Given the performances are happening in an alternate space, it adds another dimension to the viewing experience. With Out and About, the Foundation is strengthening its mandate of making the Festival accessible to people from all walks of life.
In addition, Charvi Budhdeo will conduct the ‘Expressive Arts Therapy Workshop’ from July 27 to August 2, 2024, at old age homes in Goa. These workshops are designed to engage the elderly in creative activities that are both accessible and therapeutic, fostering a sense of connection, joy, and self-expression. The workshop will utilize various creative modalities, tailored to meet the needs and abilities of the elderly participants.
About Serendipity Arts
Serendipity Arts is an art and cultural development foundation created to encourage and support the arts as a significant contributor to civil society. It aims to promote new creative strategies, artistic interventions, and cultural partnerships that are responsive and seek to address the social, cultural, and environmental milieu of South Asia. SAF’s programmes impact education, create social initiatives, foster community development and explore multidisciplinary forays in the arts, with a special focus on South Asia.
About Serendipity Arts Festival
The Foundation’s primary initiative and largest project, the Serendipity Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary arts event held annually every December in Goa. Spanning the visual, performing and culinary arts, the Festival’s programming includes music, dance, visual arts, craft, photography, film, and theatre. The Festival addresses pressing social issues such as arts education and pedagogy, cultural patronage, interdisciplinary discourse, and access to the arts. The 2024 edition is in Panjim, Goa from December 15-22.
Image Courtesy – Serendipity Arts Foundation
