The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Anant National University, a DesignX University. According to an official statement, the signing ceremony took place at the IGNCA campus in New Delhi, marking the commencement of a postgraduate diploma programme in Cultural Management at Anant National University.
This partnership aims to give students the skills necessary for effective cultural heritage management and preservation in today’s rapidly changing world. As stated in the press release, this formidable partnership is poised to reshape the landscape of cultural management education.
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is envisioned as a centre for studying and practicing all arts – each form with its integrity, yet within a dimension of mutual interdependence, interconnected with nature, social structure, and cosmology. Through diverse programmes of research, publication, training, creative activities and performance, the IGNCA seeks to place the arts within the context of the natural and human environment. The Centre’s fundamental approach is to ensure that all of its work will be multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary.
Speaking about the development, Anunaya Chaubey, Provost, Anant National University, said:
This programme aims to harmonise with contemporary demands and values. AnantU’s vision of nurturing ‘solutionaries’ is rooted in interdisciplinary and collaborative learning. Partners like IGNCA are instrumental in propelling our journey forward, adding invaluable depth and perspective to our endeavours.
This collaborative initiative goes beyond creating the postgraduate diploma programme to foster knowledge exchange in design, indigenous arts, and culture. According to the release, joint events and upcoming courses related to Cultural Management and Arts Administration are planned.
Anupa Lahiry, Regional Head of IGNCA, commented:
The partnership between IGNCA and AnantU is an influential union of two remarkable strengths. This partnership promises to be of paramount significance, breathing new life into Indian architecture.
Anant National University (AnantU) was established as a private university in 2016 by an Act of the Gujarat Legislature. Through design thinking, the University aims to bridge the gap between contemporary socioeconomic challenges and sustainable solutions. Its internationally and nationally acclaimed faculty facilitates a holistic design and architecture education with a liberal arts perspective. The academic experience at the University focuses on self-development while also developing domain expertise and providing industry exposure. The institute develops designers with technical skills, a comprehensive understanding of the context, and who are also good communicators, collaborative workers, and critical thinkers. Its pedagogy encourages students to develop a revolutionary mindset and a habit of seeking solutions to local and global problems by incorporating knowledge from various domains into their designs.