Annual report 2003-2004 - India Foundation for the Arts

income by undertaking training programmes,workshops and contracted assignments, andoffering short-term courses in acting and stagecraft.KPP attained some but not all the targets ithad set out to achieve during the first year ofthe grant. On the artistic side, the group’sprogress has been quite dramatic. It createdsix new full-length productions and two newstreet plays, and developed customised shortplays for 22 clients. The productions werestaged many times, at several venues, and fordiverse audiences. It is also significant that KPPhas identified a permanent space for its administrativeand artistic work. KPP sees this spacebecoming a hub for artistic activity—rehearsals,performances, workshops and seminars—and aresource for Tamil theatre groups. The groupexpects in time to earn additional income byrenting the space to other cultural organisations.KPP’s management has also been strengthened,although there is room for furtherimprovement in this area. The Board ofTrustees has been expanded, new office staffrecruited and actors encouraged to take on variousorganisational responsibilities in an effortto facilitate the emergence of new leadershipin the group. However, the trustees need to setup Committees to monitor progress and setpolicy directions in key strategic areas, andestablish a proper channel for communicatingwith the staff and actors. While four actors’groups were constituted to take responsibilityfor touring, promotion, audience-building andasset management respectively, these haveoperated fitfully, largely because they have notbeen provided with adequate and consistenton-site guidance and feedback. This partlyexplains why KPP has accomplished less thanexpected in those functional areas. Despitethese shortcomings, however, KPP raisedapproximately Rs 15 lakh through customisedperformances, theatre-based training, rentingits lights and a grant from the central governmentin 2003-04.In the coming year, KPP will strive toimprove the functioning of the Board, coach acore group of actors to manage all operations,and generate a revenue inflow of Rs 25 lakh.Specific plans include initiating regular activitiesat the new space, creating and disseminatingpublicity materials, and organising a festivalof productions, a major fundraising event andperformance tours in five pockets of Tamil Nadu.22