Sanskriti

Exploring Shared Heritage 

Sanskriti is a new heritage project launched by ArtsEkta - an award winning ethnic arts organisation.

Sanskriti is principally funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

What is Sanskriti? 

Sanskriti, meaning ‘cultivating’ in the Hindi language, is an exciting new project from the company that brings you Belfast Mela .  Sanskriti will take you to the very roots of Indian heritage by leading you on a three year expedition of the traditional crafts of the Indian continent, and exploring the significant role these crafts play in the practical, spiritual and cultural lives of the Indian people.   

Sanskriti will explore the rich traditional craftsmanship of textile, pottery and performance art of Indian myths and legends, and their links to the real lives of the Indian people narrated through the voices of the Indian community in Northern Ireland and the Indian continent.

The three year project will actively take the community of Northern Ireland on an adventure to the heart of what it means to be Indian.  The project will explore the themes of migration, cultural diversity and artistic expression as a way of life, providing a platform through which to actively share in the diverse traditional arts and culture of India

Why is Sanskriti important? 

Sanskriti has been developed in direct response to the changing makeup of Northern Ireland’s multicultural society.  The growing population of ethnic minority communities have been met with an increase in racist attitudes, prejudice and a lack of provision for the practice of cultural and artistic expression.

The introduction of Sanskriti into the artistic and cultural landscape of Northern Ireland will increase awareness and promote celebration of the vibrant and historic cultural heritage of India.  The inclusive approach of the project will promote appreciation and a sense of shared identity, while providing opportunity for cultural expression amongst the Indian community, and artistic progression and diversity.        

Partcipation 

A primary focus of Sanskriti is on community participation.  A wide variety of opportunities for active participation on the development and delivery of Sanskriti are available and welcomed by the project team.  These opportunities range from joining an online forum to provide feedback which will help us develop the content of the project to

We are currently seeking volunteers with an interest in promoting knowledge and access to Indian cultural heritage to become part of our participant forum to assist in the development of the project content.  Of particular interest are volunteers deriving from the first and second generation Indian community, and the indigenous community of Northern Ireland.

The project team will also be soon releasing a questionnaire designed to collect information from the community of Northern Ireland asking what you would like to see this three year project achieve, and which elements of Indian heritage you would like us to explore.  All replies will be welcomed and taken on board by the Sanskriti team!