Awrt Festival

Awrt Festival Logo Icon

Pune’s First Art Festival in a Basti

Paalvia Foundation and Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation started training children of Burma Shell Basti in various art forms. This started showing signs of change in children. The Awrt Festival is a milestone to demonstrate the positive changes these art forms are bringing.

Why City Needs Awrt Festival

  • Enhancing Cultural Identity and Civic Pride
  • Strong City Branding
  • Promoting Inclusive Cultural Development
  • Building Social Resilience and Cohesion
  • Catalyst for Mental Health Awareness and Support
  • Inspiring Future Generations
Research and Reports

A number of research studies have found that art interventions play a significant role in human growth and development, especially in children. Research shows that art interventions help children at all stages of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

American Art Therapy Association (AATA), 2017: The impact of art therapy on children’s mental health and well-being: A review of the literature, highlights how art can:

  • Provide safe, structured environments for emotional and psychological safety (Physiological and Safety Needs).
  • Build social connections and foster community (Belongingness and Love Needs).
  • Boost self-esteem through the mastery of artistic skills and public recognition (Esteem Needs).
  • Encourage self-actualization by offering a medium for creative exploration, identity development, and personal growth.

Create London: Community Arts and Social Impact, 2018: A report on the impact of community arts projects in urban settings shows that arts initiatives reduce social isolation (belongingness), build confidence (esteem), and provide platforms for personal expression and growth (self-actualization).

Similar research and reports:

  • Harvard’s Project Zero: Reference: Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education, 2007
  • National Endowment for the Arts, 2021: The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies.
  • Create London: Community Arts and Social Impact, 2018
  • International Journal of Art Therapy: Reference: Handbook of Art Therapy, 2003.

The Initiative

Awrt Festival is an initiative by Paalvia Foundation. It is being organised at Burma Shell Basti in collaboration with Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation.

Paalvia Foundation

A social initiative which aims to bring well-being to people and harmony in society through arts, literature and cultural activities. It provides experiences, training, events & consultancy.

Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation

The Word “Awrt”

Awrt

Art in any form always brings out an ‘Aww.’ This feeling comes from both the awrtists and awdience, spreading to everyone and creating a shared ‘Aww’ vibe.

Art is

Aw-some

Aw-akening

Aw-ard

Aw-struck

and so it has to be Awart