British Council

What could have been a better way for me as a visual chronicler to celebrate my India’s 75th anniversary than spending it with storytellers re-claiming their narrative as a community and as a people at large. Enabled by British Council as part of ‘India/UK Together, a Season of Culture’, I have had the chance to witness and document some of the finest curated, community and technology led festivals and experiences.

Govandi Arts Festival

A flying falcon peeping out from the windows of Natwar Parekh Compound, or one might say it’s a pigeon or a crow; the massive head of this creature glances over a large sea of enthusiastic people as they tell us their story of resilience, wonder and imagination.

Brought together by Community Design Agency (India), British Council India, Streets Reimagined (UK) and Lamplighter Arts CIC (UK), the mentorship program particularly stood out for me since it involved mentors from various creative disciplines like Theatre, Film, Photography, Public Art and Rap who nurtured and supported the youth of Govandi.

The most surreal part of the festival was the beautiful lantern parade where all the large paper lanterns made by the youth of Govandi came alive and it almost felt like we were all on our way celebrating, lighting the streets and faces as we walked into a brave new world – of hope and resilience. Mentored by Lamplighter Arts CIC (UK), these lanterns will also be part of the parade all the way in Bristol, taking the stories from the streets of Govandi to the UK. 

Concert of Friendship

British Council in collaboration with KM Music Conservatory, The AR Rahman Foundation’s Sunshine Orchestra and Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise

A truly magical evening facilitated by the British Council saw two artistic worlds and cultures come together; in the words of A R Rahman who is also the brand ambassador for British Council’s India/UK Together, a Season of Culture – “I can see a fifteen year old dream come true.” And indeed the day felt like a dream, with young emerging musicians, singers and sopranos presenting a spectacular orchestra that truly celebrated the friendship and collaboration between two culturally rooted nations – India and the UK.

Brought together by Community Design Agency (India), British Council India, Streets Reimagined (UK) and Lamplighter Arts CIC (UK), the mentorship program particularly stood out for me since it involved mentors from various creative disciplines like Theatre, Film, Photography, Public Art and Rap who nurtured and supported the youth of Govandi.

The most surreal part of the festival was the beautiful lantern parade where all the large paper lanterns made by the youth of Govandi came alive and it almost felt like we were all on our way celebrating, lighting the streets and faces as we walked into a brave new world – of hope and resilience. Mentored by Lamplighter Arts CIC (UK), these lanterns will also be part of the parade all the way in Bristol, taking the stories from the streets of Govandi to the UK. 

Future Fantastic

The festival highlighted the power that collaborative creative production has in amplifying a global response to our shared climate emergency and explored AI artworks, talks, films, panel discussions and workshops that wove a tapestry of diverse, global perspectives on technology, art and climate change. While this question was generated with the aid of an AI Logic Learning Model (LLM) – similar relevant questions hovered around in our minds as we wandered around the immersive three-day Future Fantastic Festival in Bangalore this month. Supported by British Council’s India/UK Together Season of Culture, artists from Bengaluru and Manchester and the world collaborated to create art, games and immersive digital and live performance experiences addressing water conservation, a torrent of waste and endangered habitats.