Why arts?

I have admired Shweta as a dancer for a long time. To be able to chat with her on long calls before this podcast, to prepare the questions for her, to meet her in person and to listen to her speak were all a beautiful coming together of efforts of a very long one year! I love how we did not hurry any of this. That’s what I want this podcast to be. Conversations and a lot of unfinished thinking. Each episode a reflection of dwelling on moments. Shweta is a dancer of the modern times. She is a thinker with a dictionary derived from experiences and she has the skill to present a gorgeous arrangement of her thoughts. Like her dance, the effort is hidden and beauty is highlighted. This conversation was an honest attempt to share what moves us and bothers us. Bringing this to listeners with love and hope!

We need to listen more often than we speak. So here I am listening to my favourite people. Driven by a deep passion and a commitment to nurturing curiosity, an analyst made the transformative decision to become a school teacher. He has held influential roles in esteemed organizations like Teach for India, Dream-a-Dream, and the Delhi Government, where he has gained valuable insights from both classrooms and boardrooms. Following this, he took on the pivotal role as the Director of the renowned Bangalore International Centre, a cultural hub that champions dialogue and celebrates diversity. Vikram is a warm-hearted gentleman who deeply cares about the world he inhabits. On Art Matters, he shares his observations, intuitions, and insights into the world of art. His journey is profoundly moving, and the conversation is characterized by a compelling mix of authenticity and vulnerability, making it impactful and thought-provoking.

Swetha is the Co-founder, and leads Impact and Strategy at Key Education Foundation - a not for profit aimed at ensuring quality early childhood education for children from low income communities in India. Her career continues to be a journey from one milestone to another that includes prestigious fellowships, a seat at important tables and the joy of developing new products and leading her team at KEF. Swetha is a passionate writer, avid reader and bird watcher. She loves writing stories for children and spending time with her dogs.Her genteel manner is balanced with fierce questioning. On Art Matters she unpacks her personal journey with music, sharing stories of hope and questions that keep her awake at night.

We need to listen more often than we speak. So here I am listening to my favourite people. These are people I either know or admire. These are people who I watch closely. These are people I relate with. First people on the list: Payoshni (she is obsessed with her name) She is a start-up founder and brings over 18 years of work experience across Partnerships, People, and Programs. She is passionate about conversations around women in the workforce and a strong advocate of inclusive & diverse workplaces. Payoshni loves walking across city lanes, reading under trees and manifesting a career as a celebrity writer.She lives in Bangalore with her husband, her 6-year-old daughter and 4 dogs.Listen to this conversation and bet you will laugh louder!

The four key concepts that form the domain of Neuroarts as we know today. This is so new that my autocorrect is showing an error when I spell Neuroarts!

Wanted to read something to you to highlight the difference in the two categories mentioned in the 2nd episode. So here is a bonus one!

Before we get all excited about all the evidence that can prove how arts impact us, let’s think about their space in our life. What location do they occupy? Can we respect all self expression and yet set high standards for artists? Can we enable free exploration but be disciplined about it? What do these differences in thinking indicate? Are they just individual and cultural perspectives or there is more order to that thinking? Listen to find out!

If it is not essential then why arts?

Creating a documentation of a journey. As an art practitioner running a not for profit I find the many intersections where humanity meets its real self. The world that I live in is filled with ideas, ideals and incomprehensible thoughts. This is my way of finding what stays, what inspires action and what makes me better. I invite you into my world!