Serendipity Arts Festival, Asia’s largest multidisciplinary art festival has transformed the otherwise quiet space along the capital city’s riverfront into a buzzing hotspot for all things art. The Art Park along the promenade in Panaji is teeming with activity at any given point of the day, transitioning from a space for school field trips and workshops to a culinary hotspot showcasing the culinary history of Goa post noon, to a space to chill and enjoy a good ambient music and camaraderie by sundown.
The space, carefully designed to house the various aspects is, in itself, everything that the festival embodies. Beginning from the far west end, the photography exhibits in Feeling Home. Where is Home? – be it the portraits of tribal women by Assavri Kulkarni or the ode to the maximum city ‘Bombay’ by Anurag Banerjee – have an undeniable charm that pulls the viewers into the different worlds photographed.
As you move inwards, away from the pensive exhibition area, the buzz gets louder with the workshops, storytelling sessions and the delicious culinary offerings. SAF has further given a facelift to the Art Park with its colourful stalls making it endearing for people of all ages, even schools to get their wards to learn about life beyond the classrooms.
“We’ve come here for the second year in a row, bringing along 73 students from standards 1 to 3. We come with the intention of helping the student learn something new as well as have a fun picnic. There’s so much to do here,” says Surekha Gaonkar, a teacher from Bal Bharati Vidyamandir in Ribandar.
Nisha Fernandes, a student from the Chubby Cheeks High School, who also came on a field trip was excited to explore the various workshops and art installations including the Changing Charpai, which attracted several youngsters and kids. “It was my first time here, and I had a lot of fun. We were at the Hive, where we learnt limericks and poetry and explored the charpai, it was fun climbing up, playing chase and the view from top was also nice,” she says.
The venue also provided a safe space for children to play around, while parents could relax on their own or bond with their kids. “I registered my son at the story telling sessions and workshops about emotions and musical instruments, while I browsed through the stalls. Every amenity was taken care of, from washrooms to any other help needed, so everyone could have fun,” says Upen Kumar from Margao.
