Indian musicians Josh Gill, Aditi B Prahlad, Vintya Perinpannathan, and Ashwin Mandothpart were part of the Rhythmexchange event. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Indian Music Experience Museum (IME) in partnership with Manchester Museum will organize a collaborative cross-cultural music festival called RhythmExchange. The first leg of the festival will be held at IME from 25 to 27 November. The second phase will take place at the Manchester Museum in the UK from March 17 to 23, 2023.
This collaborative project seeks to explore the rhythm between East and West as a shared language. As part of the year-long programme, four young musicians from India and the UK participated in a mentorship programme. Mentors from India and the UK guided the young musicians to jointly develop a rhythm-based art project, which they named JAVA – The Cadence Collective (Josh Gill, Aditi B Prahlad, Vinthia Perinpannathan, Ashwin Mandoth). Jawa will perform in front of the public for the first time on 26 November.
Rhythmexchange is an international partnership between Manchester Museum and the Indian Music Experience Museum, funded by the British Council’s India/UK Together Season of Culture and Our Shared Cultural Heritage programme.
The first leg of the festival at IME will include percussion-themed museum walkthroughs, performances by young artists from around the world, a rap battle, panel discussions and a screening. dollWhich won the National Award for Best Kannada Film.
“Through RhythmExchange we aim to promote young musicians from India and the UK and grow their global network,” said Prema John, Museum Director, IME. “Being a bilateral project and an on-site festival, young musicians have had the opportunity to discover musical links between India and the UK and now travel to the partner country to perform and engage with the host communities. We also look forward to supporting the UK leg of the festival this coming March in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Skindar Hundle MBE, Global Director of the Arts at the British Council, said: “This collaboration between IME and Manchester Museum is a great way to engage young people and artists to explore the rhythms of Eastern and Western art as a shared language. Taal showcases Indian Carnatic music with traditions.Beyond borders to improve how we understand our cultures.