The Community Box: Folk Workshops
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Over the next few weeks, Still Space Theatre and The SuperGeographics will be presenting a series of workshops, each focused on regionally specific artforms throughout India. We will highlight a key artist from each region through virtual engagements which will connect indigenous artforms to our global community.
Community Box is a series of online workshops is facilitated by a network of artist communities across India as a part of #ForArtistsandArts. #ForArtistsandArts is a volunteering initiative from Still Space Theatre to support artists affected by the pandemic since the beginning of lockdown. So far the initiative has seen 1,000+ artists supported with rations, medicines, monthly income, emergency funds and vaccines. #ForArtistsandArts has been by various individuals and organizations. Community Box is a continuation of this work, which aims to enact change within the arts ecosystem by uplifting traditional artforms & artists.
There is much we can learn from the wisdom of these traditional artists. Many live in remote regions and have excitedly agreed to overcome challenges of technology, electricity, and language to connect their personal practice to the world. Our volunteers are working closely with each facilitators and will aide the workshop for all necessary language & technology support.
For these sessions, facilitators are paid their artistic fee, supporting the continuation of these unique indigenous forms. Additionally, the workshop fee which you pay or donation you make will continue to support #ForArtistsandArts ongoing endeavors with essential support for these artists’ communities. By centering the artist, we celebrate the necessity of arts in regional culture while tangibly supporting communities hardest hit by Covid.
Join us!
Artists and non-artists are welcome to participate or observe. Of course, all are welcome to donate to ensure equity for regional artists and preserve these practices for coming generations.
The following communities have received rations from #ForArtsistsandArts over the past year, Manganiyars & Behrupiya in Rajasthan; Nautanki, Thaali ki Ramayan, Marsiya, Briha & Nukkad natak artists in Uttar Pradesh, Baul & Putul Nach mandlis in West Bengal, Lavani artists in Maharashtra and vaccination & ration for theatre artists & technical staff in Bangalore, Karnataka. There are many requests which are pending from these regions which need to be addressed at earliest.
Would you like to do more?
You can contribute towards the ongoing relief work for artists. Your contribution will help artists receive rations, medicines, vaccination, emergency funds. Funds are also utilized as artistic fees to artists sharing their knowledge. This is a voluntary initiative by artists to support artists in many ways. The effort is also directed towards working with artists to organize and conduct events offline as well as online. Your funds also help to accommodate costs incurred during such events, like documentation, travelling, printings etc.