Patrons of Art
With the evolution of the performing arts, patronage for the arts has evolved too. It has taken on different forms. While we all agree that the classical arts could definitely do with better and more patronage today, it is worthwhile to look at what IS available. When one talks of an art patron, there are a number of things that come to mind- 'Individuals' who promote artistes and their work, 'Sabhas' that are meant to be the melting pot of art, discussion and deliberation, and 'Organisations' run by an individual or a group of like minded individuals.
'Individuals' with the means to promote art are far and few to come by, nevertheless with a zeal to take the arts forward. The 'Sabha' which literally means a congregation of people, meant to be a congregation of learned people who came together to promote art, present artistes to discerning rasikas and enable a dialogue between artiste and audience. The identity and idea of a Sabha has undergone a sea of change over the past decades and warrants a detailed discussion in itself on the road ahead. 'Organisations' are of different kinds. Some host performances, some bring together research students and scholars, some facilitate learning environments and some combine all of the above and partake in all these activities and sometimes more. In the current ecosystem it has become common for performers and teachers to don the hat of organiser of performances and academic discourse. Amongst the variety of identities that an 'organisation' can take on, yet another kind of organisation becomes important to an artiste- one that is a congregation of artistes themselves, one that can be the collective voice of the artiste community.
The Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) was founded on these principles in Chennai in the late 1980s. Over the years, the organisation of artistes has grown to serve the artiste community through social programmes such as medical aid to the ailing, relief to distressed artistes, teaching programmes for students of dance and outreach camps and performances. ABHAI began its Bangalore chapter recently. Ananya Kalasinchana speaks to ABHAI Secretary Smt. Priya Murle and Sri Satyanarayana Raju, Coordinator for Bangalore Shaka, on how ABHAI will engage with the artistes of Karnataka.
"Every Shakha will have its role to play in bringing artistes together. Over the past 3 decades, ABHAI has organically grown to take in newer members.To provide a platform for performance is a recent addition to the activities that ABHAI has spearheaded. But our work encompasses much more than just a performance arena. Our goals remain- promoting Art, Outreach programs and welfare of Artistes. It is in this light thatall other Shakas will work and engage with each other.", says Priya Murle.
"Having seen the work ABHAI Chennai was doing to help rehabilitate artistes affected during natural disasters and also old and indigent artists getting assistance from the artistic fraternity to reconstruct their lives, I felt the need to spearhead such activities in Bengaluru too." says Satyanarayana Raju, on what motivated him to become the Coordinator for the Bangalore Shaka.
How will ABHAI Bangalore engage with artistes and students of dance? "Spreading the art form to include more and more interested and passionate students is one way to ensure the sustenance of the art. But tradition and classicism should in no way be compromised. So the "Learning with the Legends' series which was kickstarted with a session with Smt Lalitha Srinivasan at the first Abhivridhishala, will be continued with other Legends from all over India. As for how dancers can get involved in teh activities of ABHAI Bangalore, all artistes can become members first and thus get involved in the activities. "Identify schools for Outreach initiative, become teachers, organise Abhivriddhishalas, organise small festivals, competitions etc." An organisation of the artiste fraternity itself is sure to be in sync with the requirements of the fraternity. And in being so, will be the one to drive artistes ahead.
Published for Ananya Kalasinchana. Do not reprint or use text without prior permission from the editor.
'Individuals' with the means to promote art are far and few to come by, nevertheless with a zeal to take the arts forward. The 'Sabha' which literally means a congregation of people, meant to be a congregation of learned people who came together to promote art, present artistes to discerning rasikas and enable a dialogue between artiste and audience. The identity and idea of a Sabha has undergone a sea of change over the past decades and warrants a detailed discussion in itself on the road ahead. 'Organisations' are of different kinds. Some host performances, some bring together research students and scholars, some facilitate learning environments and some combine all of the above and partake in all these activities and sometimes more. In the current ecosystem it has become common for performers and teachers to don the hat of organiser of performances and academic discourse. Amongst the variety of identities that an 'organisation' can take on, yet another kind of organisation becomes important to an artiste- one that is a congregation of artistes themselves, one that can be the collective voice of the artiste community.
The Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) was founded on these principles in Chennai in the late 1980s. Over the years, the organisation of artistes has grown to serve the artiste community through social programmes such as medical aid to the ailing, relief to distressed artistes, teaching programmes for students of dance and outreach camps and performances. ABHAI began its Bangalore chapter recently. Ananya Kalasinchana speaks to ABHAI Secretary Smt. Priya Murle and Sri Satyanarayana Raju, Coordinator for Bangalore Shaka, on how ABHAI will engage with the artistes of Karnataka.
"Every Shakha will have its role to play in bringing artistes together. Over the past 3 decades, ABHAI has organically grown to take in newer members.To provide a platform for performance is a recent addition to the activities that ABHAI has spearheaded. But our work encompasses much more than just a performance arena. Our goals remain- promoting Art, Outreach programs and welfare of Artistes. It is in this light thatall other Shakas will work and engage with each other.", says Priya Murle.
"Having seen the work ABHAI Chennai was doing to help rehabilitate artistes affected during natural disasters and also old and indigent artists getting assistance from the artistic fraternity to reconstruct their lives, I felt the need to spearhead such activities in Bengaluru too." says Satyanarayana Raju, on what motivated him to become the Coordinator for the Bangalore Shaka.
How will ABHAI Bangalore engage with artistes and students of dance? "Spreading the art form to include more and more interested and passionate students is one way to ensure the sustenance of the art. But tradition and classicism should in no way be compromised. So the "Learning with the Legends' series which was kickstarted with a session with Smt Lalitha Srinivasan at the first Abhivridhishala, will be continued with other Legends from all over India. As for how dancers can get involved in teh activities of ABHAI Bangalore, all artistes can become members first and thus get involved in the activities. "Identify schools for Outreach initiative, become teachers, organise Abhivriddhishalas, organise small festivals, competitions etc." An organisation of the artiste fraternity itself is sure to be in sync with the requirements of the fraternity. And in being so, will be the one to drive artistes ahead.
Published for Ananya Kalasinchana. Do not reprint or use text without prior permission from the editor.
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