Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi founded on 26 April 1958, under the Department of Culture, nourishes and encourages various forms of dance, music, drama and folk arts of Kerala. Apart from this basic aim, the Akademi undertakes the documentation and preservation of art forms that are rare, historically important and under the threat of extinction. It is by joining hands with other similar bodies like the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, New Delhi granting affiliation to organizations, instituting awards and fellowships for outstanding artistes, and conducting seminars and workshops that the Akademi realizes its goals.
Kerala is acclaimed as God`s own country, but in a wider sense, it is Art`s own country also. With an enviable tradition of numerous art forms, Kerala presents as distinctive charm to its varied cultural life. No one who visits this land can return home, without an impression on his mind and soul of this singular charm, deep rooted in the life and culture of the people of Kerala. This distinctive character of the Kerala society is nurtured to a considerable extent, through the popularization and enrichment of local art forms. The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi was formally inaugurated by the first Prime Minister of Independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on 26th April 1958.
Publication of rare and valuable books on various arts like music, drama and dances of Kerala is an important programme of this institution. Besides, a bi-monthly journal entitled "Keli", which functions as the mouth piece of this institution, is also published regularly. Helping artists by financial assistance, disbursing annual financial grants for Arts clubs and institutions, conducting amateur and professional drama competitions and arranging art festivals etc., are a few of the regular activities of the Akademi. It accomplishes this mission by constructively interacting with similar bodies like the Sangeetha Nataka Academy, the National Academy of Music, dance, and drama, New Delhi, which grants affiliation to organization, institutes awards and fellowship for outstanding artists and conducts seminars and workshops.
The Akademi like the Kerala Sahithya Akademi and Lalitha Kala Akademi has its head quarters situated at Thrissur, the cultural capita well equipped auditorium known as Regional Theatre, for harbouring workshops, seminars and various artistic and cultural activities which it promotes. Programmes initiated by the Akademi in the recent past include `Attam` the folk festival of Kerala `Octave` the theatre arts of eight states of India (Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Nagaland) with the tradition of a glorious past, The Akademi is poised for conducting an Asian Theatre Festival and a for 45 days long theatre workshop in the days to come
Publications of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi
Keli has been the flagship publication of the Akademi since 1963. Research articles, studies and essays on music, dance, theatre and folk arts are its regular features. Originally launched as a tri-monthly, it soon became a monthly. Nowadays, it is brought out as a bi-monthly. The secretary of the Akademi is the editor of Keli.
Plurality of topics, innovative perceptions and new approaches has transformed it into a reference journal presently. Also it provides authentic and updated information about art and culture. Worth mentioning is the centre-spread of each issue that showcases colour pictures of distinguished artistes that could be a precious collection for any art lover
