What is Jawahar Kala Kendra

About Jawahar Kala Kendra

In the vast spectrum of Rajasthani Art and Heritage, the need of incubating and nurturing art and artists was prominently felt. This phenomenon brought the establishment of an international art and culture centre in Jaipur, popularly known as JKK. This international institution focused to the preservation and promotion of the various genres of Indian art and culture; embellishes further the visual and cultural heritage of Jaipur. In the last few of years JKK has apparently become the popular cultural destination and is giving a point of reference to the newly arising art and cultural centers. Through out the year cultural activities get accomplished in the JKK’s premises and include seminars, workshops, dance and music recitals, theatre shows, and publication of books on art & culture.

Owing to the activities showcased here, this lively organization pleasures to portray the nuances of an Inter national Art and Cultural centre and also fragrances robustly with the live performances of indigenous folk singers, dancers revealing and having the authentic and genuine modus operandi. Additionally, the institution significantly facilitates art- connoisseurs / scholars and artists / artisans to interact with each others, which rarely happens in commercial art & cultural destinations and destinations and resorts. This communion and connivance facilitate connoisseurs / scholars / tourists to learn about, art, culture, community struggles, history and the way of life prevalent in Rajasthan and India.

The institution’s enormous and uniquely structured building was designed by the renowned Indian architect of international repute -Charles Correa. The architecture of JKK is based on the concept of Indian astrology and resembles the square-grid plan of Jaipur city. The main building contains administrative block, an ethnographic museum, temporary exhibition galleries, open air theatre, air conditioned theatre, an arena, library, dormitories, and coffee house.

The construction of JKK building on the theme of nine planets adds unique attributes to the institution. Each section of the building resembles the characteristics of the respective planet. For instance, the library is located in the Jupiter section, which attributes to knowledge and wisdom. The Murals from Jain mythology, the charts and paintings on the ceiling of the central dome play a considerable role to attract the tourists and artists, thus formulates the exceptional nature of the institution. The coffee house in the lunar section portrays the less revealed aspects of astronomy through the paintings and creativity shown here; even on the coffee – tables. Moreover, it witnesses the leisure activities of the intelligentsias / art connoisseurs in the fragrant ambience of their thoughts, coffee beans and appetising cuisines.

The permanent ethnographical art gallery called The Alankar Museum potentially depicts the tangible and intangible heritage of Rajasthan, through a vast range of artifacts exhibited here. Another six exhibition galleries presently work as art exhibition spaces and many artists of international status have enjoyed showing their creations here. For them, this art center has been buoying as a civic playground for developing and presenting new and challenging work across the arts. They have taken the institution as an innovative and a convenient way of thinking about India art and culture. The well endowed documentation section (library and audio-visual division) contains latest and a vast range of publications on theatre, fine arts and music attracting scholars and art connoisseurs.

Adjoining the main building of the JKK is Shilpgram- a rural complex with six huts symbolizing the rural ambience of various regions of Rajasthan. These are - Marwar, Braj, Shekhawati, Tribal, Desert land and Hadoti. Apart from routine based art-culture oriented activities a mega annual festival named "LokRang" is held in the month of October – November to celebrate the enigmatic and vivacious folk art and cultural tradition of India. The ‘‘Lok Rang’’ or say ‘‘National Folk Festival’’ comprises National Handicraft Fair and National Dance Festival.

Today JKK remains quintessentially a non-profitable art and cultural centre nurturing the spirit of art and culture through its no-frill attitude and grass-root links. The JKK is perhaps the most honest representation of various forms of art and Culture prevalent in Rajasthan. The organization has been pronouncedly diminishing the gaps among the artists, artisans, scholars, visitors & art connoisseurs and putting them to explore the ambience necessary to experience the real and authentic Rajasthan.