Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre Completes One Year of Celebrating the Best of India and the World
With extraordinary milestones to its name, the Cultural Centre has emerged as a key change-maker in India’s art and culture landscape
MUMBAI (India CSR): Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), which opened its doors on March 31st, 2023, has completed a year of spectacular firsts. In an inspiring journey filled with landmark moments, the first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary art & culture destination welcomed over one million visitors, hosted more than 700 shows across 5 world-class venues, spotlighted over 670 incredible artists, and showcased four landmark visual art exhibits! To celebrate the continual love and support of its diverse community of patrons, the Cultural Centre has conceived an exclusive anniversary programming featuring specially curated live performances and a unique visual art exhibit.
Envisioned by Mrs. Nita Ambani, the centre was launched last year with India’s largest convention centre and the Fountain of Joy dedicated to the city of Mumbai.
Celebratory Year Reflection
Speaking on the occasion, Founder & Chairperson of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre Mrs. Nita Ambani said, “It is with a deep sense of pride, joy, and gratitude that we celebrate the first anniversary of our Cultural Centre. In the past year at NMACC, over a million audiences have witnessed blockbuster Indian theatricals, breathtaking global performances, stunning artworks, and traditional handicrafts from all over India. We are grateful for the love and support of our audience, and the trust and enthusiasm of our artists. It’s been an extraordinary year of firsts, showcasing the best of India and the world. And our journey has only just begun!”
“An ode to our nation, the Cultural Centre aims to preserve and promote Indian arts. I hope our spaces nurture and inspire talent, bringing together communities from across India and the globe.”
Nita M Ambani, Founder & Chairperson, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre
***
Purpose
The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) is a multi-disciplinary cultural space in Mumbai, India, with the stated purpose of promoting and preserving Indian art and culture. The NMACC aims to be a vibrant hub for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and learning, playing a significant role in promoting and preserving Indian art and culture for generations to come.
Here are some of its key objectives:
Showcasing Indian art and culture to the world: The NMACC aims to provide a platform for Indian artists and performers to showcase their talent to a global audience. This includes traditional art forms as well as contemporary works.
Nurturing and supporting artistic talent: The Centre provides resources and opportunities for artists, musicians, dancers, and other cultural practitioners to develop their skills and showcase their work.
Promoting cultural exchange and dialogue: The NMACC hosts events and exhibitions featuring international artists and performers, fostering cultural exchange and dialogue.
Educating and engaging the public: The Centre offers educational programs and workshops to raise awareness and appreciation for Indian art and culture.
Preserving India’s cultural heritage: The NMACC houses a collection of Indian art and artifacts, contributing to the preservation of the country’s rich cultural heritage.
***
Visionary Opening Extravaganza
Mirroring its larger ethos, the Cultural Centre’s blockbuster opening (in 2023) was guided by Founder & Chairperson Mrs. Nita Ambani’s vision of showcasing the best of India and the world. Over three unforgettable days, art and culture enthusiasts gathered for the first glimpse of the Cultural Centre’s now-extensive legacy of India-inspired presentations, with India’s largest ever theatrical production, ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation’; ‘India in Fashion’, a one-of-a-kind costume art exhibit; and ‘Sangam/Confluence’, a unique visual art show that inaugurated the Art House.
***
Global Meets Local Showcase
Since then, the Cultural Centre has delighted audiences with a host of iconic international acts & exhibits, even initiating the much-anticipated debuts of Broadway and West End in the country. In keeping with Mrs. Nita Ambani’s promise of preserving and promoting India’s cultural legacy for future generations, ‘SWADESH by Reliance Foundation’, the Centre’s unique art and craft exposition, has spotlighted close to 30 diverse art forms from across India.
***
Anniversary Arts Festivity
A year and many milestones later, The Grand Theatre – the Cultural Centre’s 2000-seater performing arts marvel – has brought together the finest Indian talent for an array of exclusive anniversary programming.
The milieu of artists comprises of the incredible Amit Trivedi, who will start off the celebrations on March 30th; ace vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty, who will be paying a tribute to the legendary divas of Indian Classical music on March 31st, musical icons Ajay-Atul, who will perform their beloved hits on April 6th, and singer Aditya Gadhvi of ‘Khalasi’ fame, who will showcase the best of Gujarati folk music on April 7th.
The Studio Theatre and The Cube too, have a host of intimate experiences lined up, with a captivating mix of shows across eclectic genres such as Classical, Sufi, and Indie music, contemporary dance, and theatre. Not limiting the celebratory atmosphere to ticketed events, live music acts and performances are expected to take over every corner of the Centre.
| Date | Artist | Event Description | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 30th | Amit Trivedi | Celebration kickoff with incredible performances | The Grand Theatre |
| March 31st | Kaushiki Chakraborty | Tribute to the legendary divas of Indian Classical music | The Grand Theatre |
| April 6th | Ajay-Atul | Performance of beloved hits | The Grand Theatre |
| April 7th | Aditya Gadhvi | Best of Gujarati folk music showcase | The Grand Theatre |
| Various | Various Artists | Shows across Classical, Sufi, and Indie music, contemporary dance, and theatre | The Studio Theatre & The Cube |
***
Cutting-Edge Art Exhibition
Coinciding with the anniversary, The Art House has opened the doors to ‘Liminal Gaps’ (March 31st – June 9th), an outstanding exhibition of immersive and interactive installations from the most compelling contemporary Indian artists today. In the show, Ayesha Singh, Raqs Media Collective, Asim Waqif and Afrah Shaqif present some of the large-scale projects of their careers. Curated by Mafalda Millies Kahane and Roya Sachs with executive production by Elizabeth Edelman Sachs of TRIADIC, it is the Centre’s first exhibition to exclusively showcase the works of Indian artists.
| Exhibition Title | Dates | Featured Artists | Curators | Executive Producer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liminal Gaps | March 31st – June 9th | Ayesha Singh, Raqs Media Collective, Asim Waqif, Afrah Shaqif | Mafalda Millies Kahane, Roya Sachs | Elizabeth Edelman Sachs of TRIADIC | First exhibition to exclusively showcase Indian artists’ works |
***
Summer Spectacles Unveiled
Beyond anniversary celebrations, the future of NMACC’s programming brims with endless possibilities. Summer at the Centre starts with The Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘Matilda the Musical’, to be showcased for the very first time in India at The Grand Theatre (opening on May 16th). In yet another instance of exploring new horizons, Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Shri Shobana and her troupe of dancers are set to perform their spectacular choreography ‘Celebrating the Supreme by Shobana and Ensemble’ in Mumbai for the first time, bringing to the audience a grand fusion of traditional and contemporary elements in the art form.
With a rich repository of firsts to draw from, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre is set to continue its incredible journey – changing how people engage with art and culture.
| Upcoming Event | Date | Description | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matilda the Musical by The Royal Shakespeare Company | May 16th | First-time showcase in India, a hit musical production | The Grand Theatre |
| Celebrating the Supreme by Shobana and Ensemble | TBA | Debut performance in Mumbai by Padma Shri Shobana and her troupe, a fusion of traditional and contemporary Bharatanatyam | The Grand Theatre |
***
The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre
The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre is a first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary space in the sphere of arts, within the Jio World Centre, located in the heart of Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.
The Cultural Centre is home to three performing arts spaces: the majestic 2,000-seater Grand Theatre, the technologically advanced 250-seater Studio Theatre, and the dynamic 125-seater Cube. The Cultural Centre also features the Art House, a four-storey dedicated visual arts space built as per global museum standards with the aim of housing an array of exhibits and installations from the finest artistic talent across India and the world.
Spread across its concourses is a captivating mix of public art by renowned Indian and global artists, including ‘Kamal Kunj’ – one of the largest Pichwai paintings in India.
(India CSR)
