Vision and Mission
To build a culture that addresses Glocal (global & local) concerns through Art and Creativity with network of people-public-partnerships.
We engage, encourage, and educate through participation in Arts and Creativity using Research, Documentation, Conservation, Display and Public engagement as enablers. Acting as a catalyst we facilitate Capacity Building, Artistic enhancement of professionals with special focus on emerging and mid-career artists.
Founders
R S Agarwal & R S Goenka
Founders & Jt.Chairman – Emami Group
Totally attuned and complementing each other, Mr. R S Agarwal and Mr. R S Goenka share the same thoughts in matters of innovation, ideation, activation, implementation which led them to create and build, brand Emami – a diversified leading business entity Company built to last. Today, Emami Group, under the aegis of the founding fathers enjoys leadership presence in diverse sectors like FMCG, newsprint & board manufacturing, hospitals, edible oil, bio-diesel, realty, writing instrument, retail and contemporary art, generating employment for more than 20,000 people. Apart from their sharp business acumen and leadership skills, both the friends-cum-business partners are great connoisseurs of myriad genres of performing arts, be it music, art, dance or theatre. Mr. Agarwal and Mr. Goenka's exquisite taste and love for arts led them to conceptualize & establish Emami Art, one of the largest contemporary art galleries in India and Kolkata Centre of Creativity, a one of its kind integrated art centre in India to nurture inter-disciplinary pursuits of art and culture.
An avid reader and writer, Mr. R S Agarwal is a passionate collector of art and owns an impressive and vast collection of many priceless works from all over the world. He has a penchant for giving expression to his thoughts in the contours of his poems. The two editions of Bhavdhara, are his published books on his collection of poems, featuring his ruminations on life and its tenets. Their book titled 'Business the Emami Way', a handbook on business ethics & management published in 2016, went on to become a best seller. On the other hand, possessing an eclectic taste for fine arts, Mr R S Goenka also matches up to the creative inspirations with Agarwal and shares many stimulating moments together. He has also fondly written the foreword of Agarwal's first book of poems 'Bhavdhara'. A philanthropist by heart, Goenka is associated with a number of schools, charitable trusts and philanthropic organizations.
Among innumerable awards and recognitions for their outstanding contribution to the industry and society as a whole, both the founding fathers have been conferred with the distinction of Degree of D.Litt (Honoris Causa) by KIIT University of Bhubaneswar in 2017.
Chairperson
Richa Agarwal
Chairperson, KCC
Richa Agarwal, Chairperson of the Kolkata Centre for Creativity and CEO of Emami Art, is a distinguished patron and art connoisseur dedicated to preserving Bengal's artistic and cultural heritage while embracing its contemporary evolution. Inspired by the legacy of her father-in-law, Mr. R.S. Agarwal, and his business partner, Mr. R.S. Goenka, Richa has seamlessly transitioned from her background in commerce and entrepreneurship to the realm of arts management. With strong business acumen and hands-on experience within her family enterprises, she brings a distinctive perspective to her leadership in the arts.
Richa's contributions to art and culture have earned her numerous accolades, including the FEMINA Achievers’ 2024 East Award for Excellence in the Promotion of the Arts, the New Indian Express Group DEVI Award in 2022, and the Times Power Women Award in 2018. Her vision for the Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) and Emami Art focuses on fostering a deeper appreciation for art, crafts, and cultural practices. She has spearheaded initiatives that span multiple disciplines and approaches, from contemporary and cutting-edge art practices to inclusive programmes such as "Art for All" and DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) initiatives like a Braille library.
Richa has also prioritised documenting and archiving lesser-known artists, organising annual art and craft festivals that engage the entire city, and hosting ground-breaking symposiums. Under her visionary leadership, KCC offers a diverse and nuanced programme that caters to a wide audience, making art and culture more approachable. As a result, the Kolkata Centre for Creativity has become synonymous with exceptional yet accessible art and cultural practices in the city.
Advisory Board
K.K. Chakravarty
Honorary
Advisor
Mr. Pinakin Patel
Architect, Interior Designer
Trustees
- Sri P S Patwari
- Sri J.K.Khetawat
- Sri H.M.Marda
- Sri B.K.Parekh
- Sri R.G.Ganerawala
- Sri M.L.Lohia
