The heart of Goa’s capital, Panaji, is all set for cultural convergence as the sixth physical edition of the multidisciplinary Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) 2023 commences here from December 15 to December 23. The nine-day festival seamlessly blends interdisciplinary experiences from visual, performing and culinary arts, serving as a dynamic hub for cross-pollination of ideas and conversations.
This edition of the Festival features over 150 events, incredible works of more than 300 artists, 10 curators and around 15 special curators. Alongside, there are around 15 commissioned works, exploring diverse practices and artistic creations through a different lens. The programming of the nine-day interdisciplinary Festival rests on the pillars of creating an environment of engagement and participation, and amplifying local interaction, with a key focus on supporting artists and creative expressions from the South Asian region.
Hosted by Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, Serendipity Arts Foundation and Festival, the evening was inaugurated by Govind Gaude, Minister for Art and Culture and Rohan Khaunte, Minister of Tourism.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, in a message, said: “Serendipity Arts Festival 2023 is not merely a cultural event for Goa. It is a kaleidoscope that adds vibrant dimensions to our city’s landscape. Every year, we look forward to hosting the Festival in our city as it transforms streets into galleries, parks into stages, and every corner into a haven for creativity. In celebrating cultural diversity, we not only showcase the legacy of our city but also nurture its soul, ensuring that it unites people across all generations and instils a love for art among the younger generation.”
The Vernissage was attended by a diverse spectrum of individuals, starting with prominent figures from Goa to art luminaries, current festival curators and more. This year, the Festival is supported by the Government of Goa, the Corporation of The City of Panaji, the Directorate of Art and Culture, Goa, the Entertainment Society of Goa, the Goa Tourism Department, Panaji Smart City and the Goa Forest Department.
The curation line-up of the sixth physical edition brings together a diverse set of individuals.
Sandeep Kumar Sangaru and Anjana Somany are curating the Craft section. Quasar Thakore Padamsee is helming the Theatre segment that will showcase an eclectic selection of plays. Food is an indispensable aspect of the Festival, and for this edition, Chef Thomas Zacharias and The Locavore Team will take visitors through a gastronomical journey that ties people and cultures.
Bickram Ghosh along with Ricky Kej are curating the Music section with a wide range of concerts covering diverse genres. Geeta Chandran and Mayuri Upadhya have curated classical, experimental, and contemporary dance performances and workshops. The Visual Arts curators for this edition are Veeranganakumari Solanki and Vidya Shivadas.
The 2023 edition also features a set of special curators including Zubin Balaporia (Music), Elizabeth Yorke and Anusha Murthy with Edible Issues (Culinary Arts), while Bhagyashree Patwardhan is returning to curate a project around local Goan design practices.
Sunil Kant Munjal, the Founder and Patron of the Serendipity Arts Foundation said, “We are happy to be returning to Goa for our annual celebration which is not just a tradition but a reaffirmation of our enduring commitment to nurturing the rich cultural diversity of India. This year’s programming has a key emphasis on giving South Asian artists a platform to amplify their voices and to create a community where young minds can engage, ideate, and co-create. Also, inclusivity and sustainability have been at the heart of previous editions, the 2023 Festival has independent and collaborative projects that highlight these features.”
Speaking at the event, Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, Serendipity Arts Foundation and Festival said, “In essence, the Serendipity Arts Festival goes beyond being a mere showcase of performances. It is a dynamic exploration of the ever-evolving landscape of the multidisciplinary art landscape. Through our commitment to interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and the celebration of regional diversity, SAF continues to be a vibrant hub where tradition meets innovation, and where the performing arts become a living, breathing testament to the limitless possibilities of human creativity.”
Spread across multiple venues, important cultural spaces such as the Old GMC Complex, the Art Park, Azad Maidan, Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, ESG Complex, and the Arena at Nagalli Hills Ground, among others, will be home to creative stimulation.
The official hashtag for SAF 2023 is #CometogetheratSAF, a sign of celebration and sharing of a vision that has been widely supported. This is the Festival’s eighth edition, of which two were digitally presented in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
SAF 2023 will also have the following amenities available:
• Free shuttle services from all the venues
• 350+ volunteers and art guides to help visitors with queries regarding the Festival and registration requirements
• Special accessibility volunteers for the differently abled
• Emergency medical help and first aid available on-site
• Fire Safety Measures at all sites
• Free water stations available at all venues.
About Serendipity Arts
Serendipity Arts is an arts 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. Committed to innovation, SA intends to promote and create platforms for creativity, providing the wider public with a unique source of contemporary art and culture. SAF’s programmes are designed and initiated through collaborations with partners across a multitude of fields, and each intervention uses the arts to impact education, create social initiatives, foster community development, and explore multidisciplinarity forays in the arts, with a special focus on South Asia.
About Serendipity Arts Festival
The Foundation’s primary initiative and largest project, Serendipity Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary arts event held annually every December in Goa. Curated by a panel of eminent artists and institutional figures, the Festival is a long-term cultural project that hopes to instigate positive change across the arts in India on a large scale. 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. Serendipity Arts Festival’s intensive programme of exhibitions and performances is energised by spaces for social and educational engagement. This edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival will take place in Goa from 15-23 December 2023. This is the eighth edition of the festival, of which two were digitally hosted in the years 2020 and 2021, respectively.
