New Delhi, Dec 16 (Agency) The Embassy of France in India – French Institute in India on Friday signed an agreement with the Serendipity Arts Foundation to foster cultural exchanges between France and India to mark the 2022 Serendipity Arts Festival. The agreement reaffirms France’s sustained role as a patron and partner for art festivals and contemporary creation in India, an official statement said.
Director of the French Institute in India Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens and Founder and Patron of Serendipity Arts Foundation Sunil Kant Munjal signed the agreement to spur even more active collaboration over the next two years. The agreement includes France’s continued support in bringing French artists to the festival, developing the Serendipity Arles Grant through a second edition in 2023, in partnership with Rencontres d’Arles and its Director Christophe Wiesner, extending France’s support for the annual SAF x Cité internationale des Arts residency – in which an Indian artist selected by Serendipity Arts Foundation will benefit from a residency of several months in Paris. “France will be a preferred knowledge partner of the Brij Museum, a permanent centre that will be established in Delhi to welcome all forms of artistic production. As part of this collaboration, France will facilitate contacts with French cultural and educational actors and professionals,” the statement said.
Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain, said, “This agreement recognises the incredible work accomplished over the past few years by Mr Munjal and his teams to nurture contemporary creation in all its forms in India. Our priority is to strengthen the partnership with Indian institutions, such as the Serendipity Arts Foundation, by sharing our expertise and supporting French artists coming to India. Together, we wish to promote a form of culture that is alive, accessible to a wide audience, and deeply rooted in society.” Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder and Patron, Serendipity Arts Foundation, said, “We are happy to host Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens Director of French Institute in India at the Serendipity Arts Festival, along with some excellent creative collaborations between the artists of India and France. Through this agreement we have the scope to strengthen the cultural and creative exchanges between various French institutions and Serendipity Arts Foundation, supporting many more artists with the required resources and exposure to energize their creative and artistic practices.”