Organization - The Kishkinda Trust

The preservation of cultural properties and nature is a fundamental need to sustain man in the future. It is vital to create a legacy that contributes to the outstanding features and extraordinary universal experience that is orchestrated by this world heritage site.

The Kishkinda Trust (TKT) was established in 1997 with a vision to create a model village for cultural industries in a world heritage site. It capacitates the residents of Anegundi, at grassroots level to run creative businesses though incubators and conserve their historic heritage. A contemporary crafts & arts village – it is a plan that is replicable across the country. The trust aims at improving the socio-economic condition of its communities in a number of fields, like architectural conservation, heritage restoration, crafts and design, hospitality, performing arts and environmental sustainability.

The restoration and holistic development of Anegundi’s traditional historic homes, within their cultural landscape and adaptive reuse for promotion of cultural industry incubators enables the local community to manage their own art, craft, hospitality for heritage tourism and culinary enterprises. These creative enterprises compliment contemporary lifestyle values of sustainability and conservation, which are based on the unique heritage resources of these ancient lands. The incubators create a holistic tourism experience and add to the Creative economies of the village.

The development of an art interpretation & skill development centre, crafts courtyard & night market and architectural conservation mapping are a key to this program. Historic water bodies, old township plans, irrigation systems and natural heritage are all part of the organization’s archive and restoration portfolio. Solid waste management, preservation of water bodies and plantations are undertaken.  Public spaces are being restored, maintained and activated for local cultural and heritage programmes, which also fosters the performing arts program and education program started by the trust since its early days.