Serendipity Arts in London : Draws thousands with public celebration of South Asian culture 

Goa Khabar : Serendipity Arts welcomed audiences across South Kensington, London for a programme of public events celebrating South Asian art, music, performance, and craft traditions, presented in partnership with the Science Museum and the Great Exhibition Road Festival.

Spanning museums, streets, and public spaces, the programme transformed South Kensington, London, into a site of gathering and participation. The programme began with the Eyes Shall Deceive (नैनन की ठगी), commissioned and produced by Serendipity Arts. Directed by well-known music composer Sneha Khanwalkar and artist Sudarshan Shetty, the work drew on the musical folklore of contemporary urban India, bringing together 16mm film, live music, and performance.

The celebrations continued with Giants on the Move, directed by renowned puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee, Founder of The Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust and presented as part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival. Ten giant handcrafted puppets, created from bamboo, cloth, and richly coloured textiles, travelled along Exhibition Road accompanied by live percussion. The procession drew on India’s traditions of puppetry, processions, and street theatre. 

The programme reflected Serendipity Arts’ commitment to broadening access to culture, rooted in the belief that an unplanned encounter with the work can be as meaningful as a deliberate one. This approach builds on the organisation’s work through the Serendipity Arts Festival, held annually, in Goa, where heritage buildings, public spaces, and alternative venues are transformed into platforms for artistic engagement and public participation. Recognised with the Svayam Accessibility Award 2025, the Festival has become a leading example of inclusive cultural programming, welcoming audiences to move between disciplines, perspectives, and experiences.

Reflecting on this occasion, Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder & Patron of Serendipity Arts, said:

“London is an important city for Serendipity Arts and a natural place for us to build new relationships and collaborations. The city’s South Asian communities have played a vital role in shaping its cultural life, and we wanted to create opportunities for those audiences, alongside Londoners and international visitors, to meaningfully engage with artistic practices from across South Asia in meaningful and accessible ways.

Smriti Rajgarhia, Director of Serendipity Arts, said “At Serendipity Arts, we believe culture has the power to bring people together across geographies, histories and perspectives. Presenting artistic practices from South Asia in public spaces across South Kensington allowed us to create moments of shared discovery and dialogue between artists, institutions, and audiences. We are encouraged by the relationships and exchanges that have emerged through this programme and look forward to building on these partnerships, creating new opportunities for cross-cultural collaborations.”

Shri Mukindagiri, Deputy Chief Executive, Science Museum Group, said:

“Our collaboration with Serendipity Arts brought together diverse artistic and cultural perspectives and invited visitors to experience a joyful blend of science, music, and art. We were thrilled to host the Serendipity Arts programme for our Innovation Lates, part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival, and to welcome audiences to this distinctive experience.”

Thousands of visitors and families engaged with the programme across the Science Museum and Great Exhibition Road Festival, reflecting strong public interest in South Asian artistic and cultural practices.

The success of the London programme marks an important milestone in Serendipity Arts’ expanding international programme of partnerships, commissions, residencies, and public projects. Building on the success of the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, South Asia’s largest multidisciplinary arts festival, the organisation continues to create opportunities for artists, institutions, and audiences to connect through culture across South Asia, Europe, and the UK. Continuing its long-standing curator-led approach, the 11th edition in Panaji, Goa from December 13–20, 2026, will bring together a group of practitioners whose work is deeply rooted in inquiry, experimentation, and collaboration. Serendipity Arts also eyes London in the summer of 2027 for the full-fledged 12th edition, as part of its continued endeavour of international cultural exchange.