As the Serendipity Arts Festival gears up for its landmark tenth edition in Goa this December, the event stands as a testament to a decade of cultural transformation. Founder patron Sunil Kant Munjal reflects on the festival's remarkable journey, from its inception to becoming a cornerstone of India's contemporary arts ecosystem.
From Vision to Cultural Movement
When the Serendipity Arts Festival first launched in 2016, its primary mission was straightforward yet ambitious: break down barriers between different art forms and make contemporary arts accessible to broader audiences. What began as a multidisciplinary platform has evolved into something much more significant.
The festival has transformed from a mere presentation space to an active agent of cultural change, focusing on commissioning new work, supporting artistic research, and building infrastructure for the arts. This evolution reflects in its commitment to creating pathways for emerging artists and addressing systemic gaps in arts education and accessibility.
Over the years, the festival has deliberately engaged with critical questions of heritage conservation, public space activation, and the sustainability of traditional practices in contemporary times. It has moved beyond being an annual event to building a continuous, vibrant ecosystem for the arts across India.
Memorable Projects That Defined a Decade
Looking back at nine successful editions, several projects stand out for their impact and innovation. Talatum, an Indian contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest presented in a circus tent during the 2016 edition, perfectly captured the festival's experimental spirit. The unconventional venue choice created an intimate, charged atmosphere that broke traditional audience-performer barriers.
The 2019 edition featured two remarkable projects: SEED
