NANDITHA RAGHAVAN - CREATIVE PARTNER OF PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS
This January I had an incredible opportunity to meet Nanditha - the creative partner of Platform for Artists.
PFA is a unique platform which offers aspiring artists like writers, painters, designers, photographers, creative entrepreneurs, dancers etc. to expose and share their skills at events held in many cities around India.
Nanditha was selected as a mentor of change in the Government of India's NITI Aayog - ATAL Innovation Mission for the Mentor India Program.
PFA is a unique platform which offers aspiring artists like writers, painters, designers, photographers, creative entrepreneurs, dancers etc. to expose and share their skills at events held in many cities around India.
Nanditha was selected as a mentor of change in the Government of India's NITI Aayog - ATAL Innovation Mission for the Mentor India Program.
1) How did the idea to start "Platform for Artists" come up?
The core idea behind starting Platform for Artists was to support sustained artistic residencies in community settings, demonstrating that artists are integral to healthy communities and that the arts are a societal cornerstone that brings people together, builds community, and fosters social progress. PFA is built to centralize artists and their artistic processes as vehicles for community vitality. Our projects, events and festivals are designed to be artist-driven, and engage community members as active participants in creative India.
2) What kind of planning / research you had to do before you spearheaded the final roll call for PFA?
As a Creative Partner, it is very important that I stay tuned to every tiny activity, interaction, event, impact that is being created in the field of art today. There lies my planning and research for ways to improve PFA, socialize our creative message, collaborate with independent artists and learn from peers and superiors in this industry. In the era of all things connected, this is a continuous process for collaborative art.
3) How do you go by inviting guest-speakers to come to PFA events?
PFA was built on the idea of all things art and creativity and that remains the underlying theme in all of our interactions, irrespective of the format and structure of the events. With respect to guest speakers who oblige to come to our shows, we usually reach out to experts in different genres of performing arts with some local (city) influence to be able to connect with the city's artists and resonate with them better. We try our best to personalize every event to that particular city and its vibe.
4) Did you ever try to give up as you developed PFA? If yes, how did you manage to face the odds?
I think with every evolving creative community such as ours, there are odds and challenges we battle every single day. But above all, at PFA we have a unified artistic vision that is passionately shared by every core team member (including the volunteers) that helps to march forward, no matter how difficult things may get.
5) Which part of organising an event do you find stressful?
Honestly, for me every event is as important as the previous one and keeping that creative energy alive from start to end is perhaps the hardest thing to do.
The core idea behind starting Platform for Artists was to support sustained artistic residencies in community settings, demonstrating that artists are integral to healthy communities and that the arts are a societal cornerstone that brings people together, builds community, and fosters social progress. PFA is built to centralize artists and their artistic processes as vehicles for community vitality. Our projects, events and festivals are designed to be artist-driven, and engage community members as active participants in creative India.
2) What kind of planning / research you had to do before you spearheaded the final roll call for PFA?
As a Creative Partner, it is very important that I stay tuned to every tiny activity, interaction, event, impact that is being created in the field of art today. There lies my planning and research for ways to improve PFA, socialize our creative message, collaborate with independent artists and learn from peers and superiors in this industry. In the era of all things connected, this is a continuous process for collaborative art.
3) How do you go by inviting guest-speakers to come to PFA events?
PFA was built on the idea of all things art and creativity and that remains the underlying theme in all of our interactions, irrespective of the format and structure of the events. With respect to guest speakers who oblige to come to our shows, we usually reach out to experts in different genres of performing arts with some local (city) influence to be able to connect with the city's artists and resonate with them better. We try our best to personalize every event to that particular city and its vibe.
4) Did you ever try to give up as you developed PFA? If yes, how did you manage to face the odds?
I think with every evolving creative community such as ours, there are odds and challenges we battle every single day. But above all, at PFA we have a unified artistic vision that is passionately shared by every core team member (including the volunteers) that helps to march forward, no matter how difficult things may get.
5) Which part of organising an event do you find stressful?
Honestly, for me every event is as important as the previous one and keeping that creative energy alive from start to end is perhaps the hardest thing to do.
The PFA offers a voice for budding artists to share their talent.
On their Facebook page, they upload several exciting paintings of unknown artists.
On their Facebook page, they upload several exciting paintings of unknown artists.
6) You have met so many renowned artists so far. Which person inspired you the most?
I have too many favourites to list, to be honest. But if I have to pick one name from that list, then it would be Keshav sir! - (One of India's famous cartoonist) His passion and most importantly discipline for the arts is overwhelming and extremely inspiring for me and I'm sure for every aspiring creative soul out there.
7) You work for Freshworks and also run PFA. How do you manage your time?
Yes, in addition to running PFA, I am also an Industry marketer at Freshworks, Chennai but honestly managing my time between Freshworks and PFA has not really been a struggle. By design, I am very disciplined with my time and work so I ensure that my output doesn't get affected in either place. In fact I derive a lot of creative fuel and energy from PFA that helps in my corporate role at Freshworks.
8) Are you collaborating with any other creative consultancy?
Yes I am. I normally collaborate with a few other creative communities like PFA in Chennai for specific art festivals and events in town. But with PFA itself, our goal is to eventually grow and evolve our community in a way that we become a medium of choice for all artistic collaborations in India.
9) How has your life been since PFA?
In one word, phenomenal. We are turning ONE in April this year and it has been quite a ride for us to be able to get to where we are today. I'm extremely thankful for every city, every event, every artist, every volunteer, every single moment of this past year, for moulding us into better, creative versions of ourselves. We have so much in store for 2018 and beyond that we are only and only looking ahead right now. We also realise that with each passing year our responsibility towards this community and its impact are growing and we are committed to do our best to deliver on expectations.
I have too many favourites to list, to be honest. But if I have to pick one name from that list, then it would be Keshav sir! - (One of India's famous cartoonist) His passion and most importantly discipline for the arts is overwhelming and extremely inspiring for me and I'm sure for every aspiring creative soul out there.
7) You work for Freshworks and also run PFA. How do you manage your time?
Yes, in addition to running PFA, I am also an Industry marketer at Freshworks, Chennai but honestly managing my time between Freshworks and PFA has not really been a struggle. By design, I am very disciplined with my time and work so I ensure that my output doesn't get affected in either place. In fact I derive a lot of creative fuel and energy from PFA that helps in my corporate role at Freshworks.
8) Are you collaborating with any other creative consultancy?
Yes I am. I normally collaborate with a few other creative communities like PFA in Chennai for specific art festivals and events in town. But with PFA itself, our goal is to eventually grow and evolve our community in a way that we become a medium of choice for all artistic collaborations in India.
9) How has your life been since PFA?
In one word, phenomenal. We are turning ONE in April this year and it has been quite a ride for us to be able to get to where we are today. I'm extremely thankful for every city, every event, every artist, every volunteer, every single moment of this past year, for moulding us into better, creative versions of ourselves. We have so much in store for 2018 and beyond that we are only and only looking ahead right now. We also realise that with each passing year our responsibility towards this community and its impact are growing and we are committed to do our best to deliver on expectations.