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and Announce National Conference on Inclusive Performing Arts Spaces
A landmark interdisciplinary conference seeks to transform the landscape of performing arts by centering equality, dignity, and accessibility.
, the music and dance institution of , in collaboration with ), , and other partners, has announced ENSEMBLE 2027 , a two-day national conference titled “Performing Equality: Reimagining Inclusive Artistic Spaces in the Spirit of Tagore.” The conference—scheduled for 4–5 January 2027 in hybrid mode—aims to bring together scholars, artists, legal experts, and policymakers to address systemic barriers and transform performing arts into truly inclusive spaces.
A Vision Rooted in Tagore’s Legacy
Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s enduring ideals of humanism, dignity, and social justice, the conference will explore how his vision can be reinterpreted for contemporary challenges. Tagore’s own experiments in dance, drama, and music at broke traditional hierarchies and embraced marginalised voices. ENSEMBLE 2027 seeks to extend that spirit into modern discourse on access, safety, and representation.
Critical Themes Under the Spotlight
The conference addresses several pressing issues that have long remained under-addressed in Indian performing arts institutions:
- Sexual Harassment and Power Hierarchies: With the #MeToo movement reverberating through the arts, the conference will examine the unique dynamics of guru-shishya relationships, institutional accountability, and the implementation of in cultural spaces.
- Disability and Accessibility: Universal access to auditoriums, adaptive choreography, and assistive technologies are central to creating dignified participation for differently-abled artists.
- Transgender and LGBTQIA+ Inclusion: The visibility and challenges faced by transgender artists, inclusive casting, and gender-diverse narratives in music and theatre will be explored.
- Mental Health and Well-being: The psychological toll of discrimination, harassment, and exclusion on performers will be analysed alongside strategies for trauma-informed practice.
- Policy, Law, and Education: The conference will also focus on gender sensitisation in curricula, ethics in arts management, and reforms needed in institutional policies.
A Collaborative Platform for Change
The partnership between and —through its —signals a unique intersection of the arts and law. Co-sponsors include and , an organisation working on legal accessibility. This coalition underscores that creating safe artistic spaces requires both cultural and legal frameworks.
Call for Papers and Participation
Researchers, practitioners, students, and artists are invited to submit abstracts between 17 August and 17 September 2026. Notification of acceptance will begin from 30 September 2026, with registration open from 1 to 15 October 2026. The hybrid format ensures wide participation.
For details, contact the organising committee at 8017926803 or email seminar.sgb.rsdd@.ac.in.
ENSEMBLE 2027 promises to be a watershed moment for reimagining performing arts as a realm where every artist—regardless of identity or ability—can create, express, and thrive.
