Sunil Kant Munjal, the Founder and Patron of the Serendipity Arts Foundation (SAF), has been a driving force in transforming India’s cultural landscape. Under Munjal’s leadership, SAF has emerged as a pivotal institution in South Asia, championing creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultural exchange.
The ninth edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival is taking place in Panaji, Goa, from December 15 to December 22. Subsequently, the bandwagon will head to Birmingham, UK, from May 23 to June 1, 2025, for a ten-day extravaganza, in partnership with Birmingham City University. It’s the first time the festival is venturing outside of India.
In the interview, Sunil Kant Munjal talks about highlights this year’s focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation, with additions like AI-driven art, community engagement initiatives, and collaborations with international institutions, among other things.
Excerpts
Q. The Serendipity Arts Festival is known for its interdisciplinary nature, uniting visual arts, music, theatre, dance, culinary arts, and craft. How do you envision the curation for this year’s festival?
A. The 2024 edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival is designed to deepen our interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach, bringing together a broader range of art forms and integrating emerging technologies whilst placing a significant emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, and cultural preservation. This year, we have focused on creating immersive experiences which combine traditional arts with innovative tools, technology and ideas. Our curators across various disciplines bring their unique perspective and expertise to the festival and their collaborative efforts have resulted in 200+ projects that offer something for everyone.
We are also pushing the envelope further with a specific focus on public art and increased audience engagement. This year, most of the Visual Arts curation by Thukral and Tagra will allow visitors to explore their artistic side through interactive projects. Looking to the future, we will also have AI art projects under the curation of Mathieu Wothke examining the potential for innovation in the arts using AI.
Q. Could you share some of the most exciting elements or themes from the upcoming ninth edition of the festival? What should audiences expect in terms of new experiences or unique collaborations?
A. This year, we are introducing several exciting elements. Through our collaborations with France’s Centre National des Arts Plastiques (CNAP) and the Royal College of Art, and curations with a regional focus with projects like Abundance in Scarcity by Sandeep Sangaru which highlights the ingenuity of Ladakh’s culture and its sustainable practices, we aim to bring performances and artworks from across the subcontinent and beyond, creating a rich, immersive experience for our audience.
Visitors can seamlessly move between diverse art forms as well, from witnessing dance performances that integrate visual projections to exploring AI-driven art installations. This cross-disciplinary interaction offers novel ways to engage with art, whether through culinary storytelling or collaborative craft projects.
Q. The introduction of an AI Lab as part of the festival this year is an exciting addition. What are your thoughts on the intersection of technology and the arts in shaping the future of creativity and cultural expression?
A. The integration of technology into the arts represents an exciting frontier for creativity. At Serendipity, we see technology as a tool for artists to push boundaries and expand the possibilities of their work. The AI Lab in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts and Art x Machine, curated by Mathieu Wothke in collaboration with Hanif Kureshi, is a step in this direction, allowing artists to explore new modes of expression through artificial intelligence and giving several emerging creative practitioners experimenting with AI art to feature their work at the festival. This fusion of art and technology is not only about innovation but also about how we can use these tools to reflect on our world and engage audiences in new, dynamic ways. It’s a reflection of how the arts are evolving and how technology can enhance creative exploration.
Q. Through the Serendipity Arts Foundation, you have created several grants and programs to support emerging artists. Can you tell us more about the impact these initiatives have had on young artists in South Asia?
A. Our grants and residency programs have had a significant impact on emerging artists across South Asia. We are excited to launch a year-long programming calendar in 2024, including grants, open calls, and initiatives designed to nurture creative spaces where artists across disciplines can meet, engage, and develop interdisciplinary projects. Through initiatives like the Serendipity Arts Residency, we offer young artists the resources, mentorship, and platforms needed to develop their practice. Many past grant recipients have gone on to exhibit internationally and build strong careers, finding their unique voice through the opportunities we provide. These programs are integral to our mission of fostering talent and creating a sustainable cultural ecosystem. This year, we offered five grants aimed at fostering creativity and supporting interdisciplinary projects that explore the arts’ role in education, social initiatives, and community development across the subcontinent.
Notably, 40% of the curation of the festival comprises commissioned projects, providing a platform and ongoing support for artists, artisanal communities, writers, and researchers to generate new ideas and innovation in the arts.
Q. As you look to the future of Serendipity Arts and the festival, what are your long-term goals? How do you envision Serendipity’s role in shaping the cultural landscape of India and South Asia in the years to come?
A. Our long-term goal is to position Serendipity Arts as a global hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, where artists from across the world can come together to exchange ideas, innovate, and inspire change. As we look to the future of Serendipity Arts and the festival, our long-term goals focus on creating a sustainable ecosystem for the arts that extends beyond the festival dates. In this endeavour, we’ve launched The Brij – a cutting-edge arts and culture centre coming up in Delhi aimed at fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration. It will serve as a space where traditional and contemporary art forms coexist, providing a platform for artists to experiment, learn, and push boundaries. Through The Brij, we aim to build a vibrant, sustainable ecosystem that nurtures talent, encourages interdisciplinary dialogue, and creates opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange, all while making art more accessible to the public and preserving regional traditions.
We envision the festival continuing to expand its reach, both in terms of audience and influence, shaping the cultural landscape by fostering dialogue on sustainability, inclusivity, and the future of artistic practices. As we move forward, we aim to strengthen our support for emerging talent and explore new ways to integrate technology, education, and the arts in a meaningful way. We hope to bring what we’ve built in Goa to cities all over the world.
Q. With expanded programming and new venues this year, how do you plan to foster deeper engagement with the local community in Goa, and how important is it for the festival to create a lasting impact beyond the week-long event?
A.Deeper engagement with the local Goan community is a key priority for us. This year, we introduced Serendipity Out and About, our largest pre-festival outreach event, bringing commissioned performances, workshops, and children’s plays to venues like old Goan homes, schools, and community centres. The goal was to foster intimate connections and extend arts education beyond Panjim. It’s important to us that the festival’s impact goes beyond the week-long event, creating lasting relationships and cultural exchanges that continue to benefit the community long after the festival concludes.
Community engagement is a central aspect of Serendipity Arts Festival. This year, we are expanding our programming to include more interactive projects, such as the Listening to the Earth: Living Museum of Speaking Walls in collaboration with Hunarshala, where local artisans and children work together on creative projects. By involving local communities in the festival, we hope to create connections that last beyond the event itself.
Over the years, SAF has significantly impacted Panjim through architectural interventions, including the refurbishment and conservation of government buildings, streets, and parks. We also build public infrastructure for the festival that benefits the Goan community year-round, extending the festival’s positive influence beyond its duration. This year, we’re restoring the historic Directorate of Accounts building, which dates back to the 1500s, transforming its grand colonnade and secret tunnels into a vibrant hub for visual art and craft exhibitions at SAF 2024.
We aim to leave a lasting impact by fostering relationships between local and international artists, providing platforms for local talent, and supporting long-term cultural and economic development in Goa.