Art for Change facilitated its first ever Artist Residency in the North-east of India in the state of Manipur. Collaborating with two local organizations on the outskirts of Imphal, the Eden Estate and Sid Espresso, Art for Change ran a 5 day artist residency for 5 Manipuri artists from 4 different tribal communities. The theme: “Manipur: Mine-Yours-Ours” used contemporary art to both celebrate the good and positive within the diversity of Manipuri culture while also exploring the serious challenges that underly its multi-ethnic fabric.

The residency and following 2-day public exhibition that was viewed by around 250-300 participants were tremendously well received.

While responding to the beauty and life-giving nature of Manipur’s ethnic diversity the artists also addressed themes of tribal conflict, negativity, corruption, and forgiveness.

What was also recognised was that with a rich heritage of visual culture, be it in the textiles, architecture or traditional wood carvings the opportunity of contemporary art to deal with modern issues was profoundly refreshing. The residency provided nothing less than a new perspective on the role that art can play and a new means of understanding Manipur. In the context of a lack of opportunity and exposure to mainland and international trends, both artists and patrons spoke of the need for the promotion of similar contemporary art programs and the role that the residency played in modelling a platform and opportunity for young emerging artists to network and express a contemporary vision of their society.