Over the centuries, elements of India’s rich cultural heritage such as music, dance forms, languages, cuisines and architecture, to name a few, have gained a lot of prominence across the globe. This tangible and intangible inheritance, which enthrals people the world over, needs to be preserved and promoted so that it can be passed on to future generations. With a strong commitment towards conservation, the Mana Samskruthi Seva Trust supports various initiatives in the fields of performing arts and cultural heritage. By encouraging and promoting young talent in pursuing the traditional arts and crafts, the Foundation aims to create a pool of artistic resources for the future.
From folk and classical dance to theatre and music, India has become internationally renowned for its rich traditional legacy of the performing arts. However, many of these art forms are at the risk of being lost today, because the artistes cannot sustain a livelihood based solely on the performing arts. Traditionally, most of these performing art forms have been handed down to our times through oral instruction. Therefore, the best way of preserving and promoting traditional and folk arts is by live transmission through teaching and performances. In the state of Maharashtra in India, artistes who specialise in some of the oldest dance forms in the country face a double challenge, i.e., marginalisation and the disinterest of mainstream modern audiences. Therefore, it becomes absolutely crucial to document and archive these art forms and to also constantly encourage them in order to preserve their true essence.
With the firm belief that a network of like-minded organisations can eventually fill the gap of depleting knowledge in our cultural history, the Mana Samskruthi Seva Trust has identified and collaborated with relevant agencies that believe in this philosophy and has built strong relationships with them by supporting their endeavours in restoration, conservation and archival activities.
