A new cultural dialogue platform titled Conversations on Culture is set to make its debut on 7 February 2026, at the Kalakshetra Foundation, bringing together scholars, artists, and practitioners for a full-day engagement on art, heritage, and living traditions.
Curated and presented by Avalamba Foundation in collaboration with Kala Sadhanālaya, the initiative has been conceived as a forum for sustained and reflective conversations on India’s cultural inheritance, contemporary practice, and knowledge systems. Organisers said the platform evolved from informal discussions into a structured series aimed at examining culture not merely as history, but as living and relevant knowledge with present-day implications.
The inaugural edition will feature a day-long schedule of talks, panel discussions, and performances by noted speakers and artists from diverse disciplines.
Programme Highlights
The event will open at 10.00 AM with an inauguration by the Chief Guest, followed by a series of sessions beginning at 10.30 AM. The programme includes:
- “Folk Art All Around Us”, a talk by Nagraj Paturi
- “Archiving India’s Living Culture”, a talk by S Jayakumar
- “Tradition Meets Technology”, a talk by Arun Menon
- “Living Epics, Living Voices”, a talk and performance by Ramaa Bharadvaj
- “Beyond Display: Museums as Living Cultural Experiences”, a panel discussion with Anupam Sah and Ahalya Matthan
- “Preserving Heritage and Art: A Policy Perspective”, a panel discussion featuring Raghava Krishna, A K Sriram, and Ketu Ramachandrasekhar
- “Who Owns the Past?”, a conversation with historian Vikram Sampath
The day will conclude with “Raga Sangamam”, a concert by Carnatic vocalists Ranjani and Gayatri.
Platform Vision
According to the organisers, Conversations on Culture seeks to create space for pause and reflection on what societies inherit, what they forget, and what continues to shape collective identity. The platform aims to connect scholarship, practice, and public engagement, while also exploring Indian Knowledge Systems and cultural continuity through dialogue rather than prescription.
The organisers have described the first edition as the beginning of a longer series, with future editions planned around similar themes. Cultural enthusiasts and the general public have been invited to follow official updates and block their calendars for the February 7 event at Kalakshetra Foundation.
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