Goa has many theatres, galleries and museums. The Kala Academy in Goa was started in 1970 by the Government of Goa with an aim to promote dance, music, theatre, drama and literature in the state. Tiatr is a unique art form that has a musical theatre in Goa, i.e. the Tiatr Academy, that aims at fostering and developing Tiatr particularly konkani literature in roman script. Galleries such as the Fundacao Oriente in Panaji and Museum of Goa in Pilerne celebrate Goa’s cultural history through art. Museums such as Goa Chitra is an ethnographic museum which focuses on Goa’s traditional indigenous technology while the Museum of Christian Art located in the prior Portuguese capital of Old Goa, showcases the antiques of the Indo-Portuguese era.
Theatres & Galleries
Kala Academy, Panaji
Designed by the internationally renowned architect Charles Correa and completed in 1983, the Kala Academy – located in Campal, Panjim, along the Mandovi River – is a significant part of the cultural identity of Goa as it is a school for music and dance, and hosts annual plays host about various cultural festivals, symposia, conferences and tiatr performances. It is one of the key examples of modern architecture in India, its design characterised by an effortless transition from enclosed to open-to-sky spaces.
A semi-enclosed courtyard that opens out to an expansive green patch, blurring the distinction between the indoors and the outdoors; an open pathway that leads from an arterial road to the plaza, foyer and eventually towards the river; the spacious, 1000-seat Dinanath Mangeshkar Auditorium adorned with figures made by cartoonist Mario Miranda, and an open-air amphitheatre are other design features. It is an important part of the cultural identity of Goa as it annually plays host to various cultural festivals, symposia, conferences and tiatr performances.
Visit the website @ kalaacademygoa.co.in
Fundação Oriente, Panaji
Established in 1988 and located in the Bairro das Fontainhas precinct in Panjim, the Fundação Oriente is a Portuguese private institution whose key aim is to host as well as support artistic, cultural, educational and social initiatives. Its premises house a museum and art galleries and regularly organises cultural events such as concerts, festivals and exhibitions – a space that promotes the arts and conversations around it. In 2004, the institution received The Trindade Collection as a donation from The Esther
Trindade Trust, comprising the works of the well-known Goan painter António Xavier Trindade (1870-1935) as well as those of his daughter Angela Trindade (1909-1980). These works are part of the permanent collection of the museum.
Visit the website @ foriente.pt
Tiatr Academy of Goa, Panaji
The tiatr has a rich history of 125 years. It is a unique art form that has a musical theatre in Goa, i.e. the Tiatr Academy, that aims at fostering and developing Tiatr particularly konkani literature in roman script. The Tiatr Academy of Goa is a government body established by the Government of Goa in 2009 during the tenure of Digambar Kamat as the Chief Minister of Goa. The Academy was inaugurated on 16 January 2009 in Margao at the hands of the tiatr artist Master Jose Francisco Vaz.
The Academy organises various programmes and events for the promotion and conservation of tiatr. The Academy organises competitions and festivals such as the Children’s Tiatr Festival and the Popular Tiatr Festival.
Visit the website @ tiatracademyofgoa.com
Museum of Goa, Pilerne
Founded by Dr. Subodh Kerkar in 2015, the Museum celebrates Goa’s history and people through contemporary art. It is envisioned not just as a repository of objects, but as a laboratory of ideas where all forms of art are in constant dialogue with each other. The Museum seeks to bring art and local history to larger audiences, in an attempt to bridge the huge cultural gap in the country. Histories of Goa, a permanent exhibition at the Museum, offers a glimpse into the multiple histories of the state, highlighting lesser known stories of its storied past.
The Museum is housed in a three-storey, 16,000 square foot, building designed by Goan architect, Dean D’cruz, in Pilerne. Adjoining the Museum building is our Sculpture Garden, which displays a few of Dr. Kerkar’s most famous works, including the Carpet of Joy. The Museum of Goa is envisioned less as a repository of objects, and more as a laboratory of ideas where all art forms are in constant dialogue with each other.
Visit the website @ museumofgoa.com
Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Betora
Located in Betora in Ponda, the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir is an important auditorium offering state-of-the-art facilities for music, dance and theatre performances as well as a centre for literature and other allied arts. Its foundation stone was laid in 1992 and the construction completed only a decade later, in 1992. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 1000 people. It largely caters to those belonging to the nearby villages of Khandepar, Mardol and Nagueshi.
Ravindra Bhavan Hall, Curchorem
The Ravindra Bhavan Hall is located in Curchorem in the Quepem taluka in south Goa.
It is an important site for the staging of tiatr performances and drama as well as hosts competitions for children, women empowerment programmes, social gatherings and workshops in dramatics and photography.
mUSEUMS
The rich heritage and history of Goa is best displayed through its plethora of museums and galleries. One can learn a great deal of things about the invasions and occupations in the state. The museums in Goa offer a wide range of art & artefacts, archaeological objects, as well as modern artefacts to offer a detailed view of the rich history of the state.One can find naval museums to art museums to wax museums to observatory along with archaeological museums and heritage villas in Goa for the history lovers to visit. For example, The State Museum in Goa exhibits a variety of items like copper plate inscription of Kadamba Kings; wooden statues of Christian saints; stone and bronze sculptures; terracotta objects of Indus valley civilization; furniture used by the Portuguese governor and several other artefacts. These museums help give visitors a glance into Goa’s rich past.
