[PhotoSparks] ‘Come forward and do something for your city’ – creativity showcase at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2017

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the concluding section of this two-part photo essay, we showcase more of the creative works from Mumbai’s beloved brilliant Kala Ghoda Arts Festival!

In the earlier 120 posts, we brought you a wide range of creative photographs from an art fair, world music festival, painting fair, telecom expo, art museum, mobile showcase, math museum, social hackathon, bookstore, co-working space, sensorium, international design week, flower show, outdoor ads, startup roadshow, computer museum, startup T-shirts, business cards, art therapy, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, Vesak, jazz festival, modern art gallery, ecopreneurs, painter-poets, health activists, eNGOs and digital innovators.

The Kala Ghoda district in Mumbai has the finest concentration of heritage buildings in the city along with major universities, and has emerged as a key cultural and arts hub. Themed ‘Ride the Wave,’ the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2017 is a nine-day artistic treat, and always begins on the first Saturday of February (ending on the third Sunday).

One of the aims of the festival is to bring art out of the confines of galleries into the streets of the city, and bring in youth, artists, media, educators and tourists. Storytelling, folklore, contemporary literature, and international films rub shoulders with photo histories, Indian classical music, food trucks, and heritage walks (see Part I of the photo feature here).

“We have always kept the festival open and free,” explained festival director Brinda Miller in an interview (more on her artistic insights in a subsequent full-length interview). “Come forward and do something for your city,” is her message to the audience.

We feature more of the highlights of the festival in this photo essay, ending with the performance of legendary classical music vocalist Parveen Sultana. We thank all the organisers, speakers, artists, designers, musicians, volunteers and attendees at KAJF 2017, and look forward to the 10th edition of the festival already!

Got a creative photograph to share? Email us at [email protected]!

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