ABOUT AWADH ART FESTIVAL

AAF is a well-recognized small-format contemporary art fair and an initiative to promote young, lesser-known, and seasoned artists by providing them a versatile exhibition space where they can come into direct contact with art buyers, art galleries, art connoisseurs, and all other constituents of the art market.

Awadh Art Festival is a facilitator, which enables cross-pollination across cultures. The ability to have this position makes the Awadh Art Festival the core of where societal transformation can take place. This is possible when the AAF sets at its core the importance of societal realities and its urgencies. For me, Awadh Art Festival has the power to advance culture and civilization by provoking thought, introspection, and discussion – which in turn leads to change.

 

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS UNIQUE ART FAIR

  1. Sell art works to help artists.
  2. Recognize and promote National and International artists.
  3. Introduce international art to the rich Indian market.
  4. Promote Creativity and excellence in the field of Art nationally and internationally.
  5. Recognize and promote differently abled artists.
  6. Involving general public to participate in the acquisition of works of art.
  7. Provide artistic opportunities to lesser known talented artists.
  8. Promote Art & Cultural Tourism in India.

HISTORY & DETAILS OF PREVIOUS ART FESTIVALS

AAF 1st Year – 2019 (28th Jan to 3rd Feb 2019)

  • Space sponsored by Govt College of Arts & Crafts, Lucknow
  • Supported by U.P. Tourism.
  • 28 artists participated – Delhi, Maharashtra, and U.P.
  • We promoted 17 artists.

AAF 2nd Year – 2020 (26th Feb to 3rd March 2020) at Lalit Kala Akademi, Lucknow

  • Supported by Jaipur Art Summit, Lions Club Dist 321B1, Oudh Gymkhana, Lucknow.
  • 56 artists participated – Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Assam, Bengal, Bangalore, and U.P.
  • We promoted 32 artists.

AAF 3rd Year – 2021 (26th Feb to 4th March 2021) at Visual Arts Gallery, IHC, New Delhi

  • Supported by Sitaram Stationers and Sawansukha.
  • Chief Guests: Ms. Rubina Karode and Ms. Isabelle Rias, Cultural Attaché of Embassy of France.
  • 106 artists participated – Delhi, Rajasthan, Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Assam, Bengal, Bangalore, and U.P.
    • 40 artists among them were eminent.

AAF 4th Year – 2022 (21st to 28th February 2022) at Visual Arts Gallery, IHC, New Delhi

  • Supported by Delhi State Govt, AWWA, Sahnaz Hussain, & Iris.
  • Festival Advisor – Mrs. Ratan Kaul
  • Chief Guests:
    • Ms. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee (Grand Daughter of Mahatma Gandhi)
    • Mr. Johannes Höber (The Cultural Counsellor), German Embassy
    • Dr. Mariann Erdo (Director, Liszt Institute) Hungarian Cultural Centre.
    • Mrs. Veena Naravane, The First Lady of the Indian Armed Forces
    • Shree Kumar Tuhin (DG. ICCR)
    • Mrs. Ratan Kaul
    • Ms. Deepti Naval
    • Dr. Aruna Vasudev
    • Mrs. Pratibha Prahalad
  • 84 artists participated – Delhi, Gujrat, Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam, Manipur, Bengal, Bangalore, and U.P.
  • We promoted 34 artists.

CONFLUENCE – 2022 (1st to 7th November 2022) at The National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Akademy, Pragati Maidan

A NEW INITIATIVE – CONFLUENCE – The National Art Camp Aims to build cultural awareness and positive cultural relations amongst all communities by providing a common platform for artists to come together, interact, and expand their art form. This collaboration stimulates the creative environment and fosters cultural harmony.
  • Supported by Ministry of Textiles, AWWA, Camel
  • Festival Advisor – Mrs. Ratan Kaul
  • Chief Guests:
    • Meenakshi Lekhi
    • Mrs. Archana Pande (President AWWA)
    • Mrs. Shalini Arora Kochar
    • Mrs. Ratan Kaul
  • 48 artists participated – Delhi, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, J&K, Bengal, Bangalore, and U.P.
  • We promoted 21 artists.

AAF 5th Year – 2023 (1st to 6th February 2023) at Visual Arts Gallery, IHC, New Delhi

  • Supported by Delhi State Govt, AWWA, Rosemoore Home Fragrance Limited
  • Festival Advisor – Ratan Kaul
  • Guests of Honour:
    • Dr. Sonal Mansingh (Iconic cultural personality, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha)
    • Mr. Uday Mahurkar (Information Commissioner, Former Senior Deputy Editor, India Today magazine)
    • H.E. Ms. Daneila Sezonov Tane (Ambassador of Romania to India, Nepal, Bangladesh)
    • Ms. Shazia Ilmi (Indian Politician)
    • Anita Singh (Director, Indian Music Society, Member of Governing Council INTACH)
    • Sunit Tandon (Director, India Habitat Centre, President of Delhi Music Society)
    • Suvir Saran (Chef, Cookbook Author, World Traveller, TedX Speaker)
    • Mr. Maneesh Baheti (Co-founder of South Asian Association for Gastronomy (S.A.A.G))
    • Dr. Blossom Kochhar (Beauty Pioneer, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group)
    • Mr. Kamal Modi (Founder of Art Karat)
    • Gunjan Goela (Culinary Expert, Food Consultant, Chef at ITC, Food Historian)
  • 84 artists participated – Delhi, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam, Manipur, Bengal, Bangalore, and U.P.
  • We promoted 34 artists.

AAF 6th Year – 2024

INDIA ART MEET (2nd to 25th February 2024) at Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai

  • Curator – Sushma Sabnis
  • Guests of Honour:
    • Shri Eknath Shinde – Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra
    • Shri Rajesh Vinayakrao Kshirsagar – Vice President MITRA & Status of Cabinet Minister, Govt. of Maharashtra
    • Dr. Yasukata Fukahori – Consul-General of Japan, Mumbai
    • Mr. Christian Jack – Deputy Consul-General of Australia, Mumbai
    • Mr. Rahul Mitra – Film Maker, Producer, Actor, Brand Specialist, Founder of Brandsmith & Rahul Mitra Films
    • Mr. Jignesh Asher – Author & Ex Banker
    • Mrs. Pooja Giyanani – Ex Mrs. India
  • 158 artists participated – Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Bangalore, Odisha