THURROCK’S Kinetika is among 26 organisations and artists to receive funding as the Arts Council today (26 July) announces successful applicants to the Reimagine India and International Showcasing programmes.
Kinetika is to receive £97,430 through Arts Council’s Reimagine India programme, which helps English artists and organisations work with their counterparts in India to exchange ideas, develop partnerships abroad, and export their work.
Led by Kinetika (UK) and Think Arts (Kolkata), ‘Silk River’ will explore the relationship between London and Kolkata. 20 communities from along the Thames Estuary and Hooghly River will take part in a year-long artistic exchange. Artists, writers and photographers will capture and interpret the experience of journeying along these mighty rivers through the creation of 20 scrolls, which will be hand-painted onto Bengal silk.
John Orna-Ornstein, Director, South East, Arts Council England, said: “We’re really excited to be able to support Kinetika’s Silk River project, which will bring together a diverse group of artists and communities to share their cultural experiences of living by two iconic rivers. It is really important to see that this project is underpinned by such a breadth of partnerships, something that we hope will continue to flourish beyond this project.”
Ali Pretty, Artistic Director, Kinetika, said: “Silk River takes Thurrock 100 – our model of participation in response to changing social, economic and environmental circumstances – and puts it in an international context for the first time. It not only provides a way to reimagine India, but also marks the culmination of my work to date. I am excited that funding from the Arts Council has given me the opportunity to use my experience of working in Kolkata and London to create new artworks that will connect thousands of people, telling the story of their journeys.”
