Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts is a non-profit arts initiative founded by Dipti and Dattaraj V. Salgaocar. The Centre is a strong advocate for the arts in Goa, providing working and exhibition space, assistance with exchange and grant funding initiatives, infrastructural and creative support for special co-operative projects and networking with state, national and international organizations.
Located in the picturesque Altinho hills of Panjim, Sunaparanta houses several exhibition galleries, a library, a large multi-functional space for workshops and lectures, an open-air amphitheatre, a courtyard that houses Café Al Fresco.
Over the years, Sunaparanta has produced shows independently and in collaboration with leading galleries across India and Europe to present artistic talent both national and international. We have showcased work from internationally acclaimed artists like Bharat Sikka, Laxman Pai, Antonio Piedade da Cruz, Nikhil Chopra, Roger Ballen, Julian Opie, Cruzo, and F. N. Souza among others. Some of our larger group shows are often produced in collaboration with India's leading galleries such as Vadehra Art Gallery, Project 88, Jhaveri Contemporary, PhotoINK, Nature Morte, Chatterjee and Lal, and The Guild among others.
Apart from exhibitions, Sunaparanta also hosts events like book releases, lectures, musical performances and theatre presentations. We were home to the Shanghvi salons founded and hosted by bestselling novelist Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi featuring conversations with creative personalities like Sudarshan Shetty, William Dalrymple & Olivia Fraser, Dayanita Singh, Jaya Bachchan, Anne Enright, Sooni Taraporevala, Jitish Kallat, Leila & Aradhana Seth, Bharti Kher and more.
From 2014-16, Sunaparanta featured an annual arts festival titled Sensorium which brought together a constellation of international and national stars across the arts and received immense critical acclaim.
At Sunaparanta, there is a constant effort to reinvent our programming where local artists are invited to participate in a dialogue, assist in creating workshops and provide insight into the artistic world. Sunaparanta features five annual programmes in visual arts and theatre which run through the year focussed on nurturing talent among the local community from ages 5 and up. All these workshops are open to the public.