CASE STUDIES
India
Visiting Arts began an India-UK initiative in 1999 to provide programmers, curators and arts managers with a sustained programme of meetings, dialogue, professional development and exchange opportunities. The initiative also works to increase the number of collaborations and presentations of Indian arts in the UK. To date, the programme has involved workshops, commissions, mentored development visits, UK governmental briefings and partnerships.
Professional development
Visiting Art held workshops on cultural festivals and cultural tourism in Udaipur (2000) and Kolkota (2001) in partnership with British Council India with support from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Over 60 participants explored the development of cultural festivals in India as vehicles for social cohesion and harmony in a society characterised by religious, ethnic and social diversity. A second phase of the workshops was held in Scotland during the Edinburgh Festivals.
In 2004, Visiting Arts delivered a further workshop specifically designed to build and strengthen India’s dance management infrastructure. This workshop increased capacity for Indian dance professionals both nationally and internationally, as well as creating a network of national and international dance professionals. Developed in partnership with British Council India, Arts Council England and the Attakalari Centre in Bangalore.
Creative commissions
One connection made through the arts management workshops led to a commission of a lightworks exhibition as the flagship presentation during Belfast Festival at Queen’s for Diwali in 2001. The miniature electric lights from Chandannagore, West Bengal were made under the artistic direction of Visiting Arts workshop participant Nandita Palchoudhuri. who showcased this unique craft in the UK for the first time. Nandita and her cheif Technician Sridhar Das (and his technicians) gave a workshop on their production techniques and the use of recycled resources. A second piece was curated by Nandita for the Thames Festival in 2003. Bajra, a seven metre long, five metre high, three dimensional ceremonial peacock was created from 125,000 tiny handmade light bulbs and led the Thames Festival Night Procession.
Bajra
© Nandita Palchoudhuri
Visiting Arts followed up the workshops through a series of mentored development visits to various locations in India including Bangalore, Delhi, Jaipur and Kolkota for producers and curators from across the UK. One visit aimed to facilitate the development of the Jaipur International Heritage Festival Promoters supported by UNESCO.
India-UK partnerships
In 2001 and 2002 Visiting Arts worked with Teamwork to present a showcase of contemporary Indian performing arts at the Edinburgh Festivals with the support of the India Consulate General in Scotland, Scottish Indian Arts Forum, Edinburgh Mela and British Council Scotland. Presentations included visual arts from Kolkata, martial arts from Manipur at the Tattoo and an all-night Raga at the Edinburgh International Festival.
The Hidden Gardens were launched in 2003 as Scotland's first pluralistic spiritual garden for the 21st Century. A major landscape project that transformed a derelict gap near the renowned Tramway theatre to create permanent gardens designed with a communal vision. The gardens were designed as a celebration of diversity in nature and humanity advocating an equality of faiths and beliefs that all have gardens central to their symbolism. Visiting Arts enabled Divya Bhatia, Prithvi Arts Director from Bombay to work with NVA as a mentor to the creative team providing a spiritual overview and conceptual framework garden.
Garden opening lights at rill
© The Hidden Gardens
Since their opening, the Hidden Gardens have been used by local communities, visitors to Glasgow, young people and has hosted a number of artists and their work. The space creates a resonance with local people in particular whose roots link Asian and Celtic traditions.
Young visitors to an open day
© The Hidden Gardens
Collaborations and presentations
Visiting Arts’ India initiative has facilitated hundreds of opportunities for UK audiences to experience the best in contemporary arts from India. Visiting Arts has worked with UK Diaspora-led organisations such as India Dance Wales and Sampad and established new connections between UK and international artists; our work has also enabled young people, local communities and future professionals to participate in intercultural arts projects.
In 2006, we enabled The Poetry Society to host poet and writer Arundhathi Subramaniam who read her own work and discussed contemporary poets of India to a wide audience at programmed events throughout the UK. Arundhathi, who is also an arts journalist and the India country editor for Poetry International Web, examined the languages of Indian poetry, its translation and concepts of national identity and culture.
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