This five-day course, conducted by ARThinkSouthAsia in collaboration with Goethe-Institut, Kabul, was designed to include a balance of theory and professional training consisting of three modules which included latest thinking in cultural management in areas such as strategic and business planning; financial planning and fundraising; and marketing and communication. These modules were led by three Indian professional trainers with significant expertise in these areas. An informal introductory meeting of the tutors with the participants was held on October 6. Each participant, facilitated by the tutors, would develop a business plan for their project during the course of the workshop.

Short Course Tutors

Manisha Gupta (Strategic Planning) has 17 years of work experience in the civil society sector of India. She has served as Ashoka India’s country representative and created a collaborative community of Ashoka Fellows within the country. In 2003, she quit Ashoka to launch her own practice with social entrepreneurs and their organizations. She served as a strategy partner, communications advisor and fundraiser to large-scale social change movements – all led by social entrepreneurs. In 2007, she launched Start Up! a Delhi-based social venture that incubates early-stage social enterprises and enables mature social change models to scale up. Manisha has written a book on CHILDLINE – the country’s largest child rights movement.

Pooja Sood (Marketing and Communication) is the Founder-Director of ARThinkSouthAsia. She is also the Director of KHOJ International Artists’ Association. Pooja Sood’s contribution has been in the field of curating alternative contemporary art practices in India as well as exploring different models of collaboration and institution-building in contemporary art. Pooja has spoken and participated in various forums on Indian contemporary art, art management, and South Asian art in India and abroad. She is a Fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme, UK (2009-10).

Mohit Gopal (Financial Planning) has completed his management education from IIM Ahmedabad and then joined the International Finance Corporation – the private sector focussed arm of the World Bank. There he analyzed companies for potential debt & equity investments by IFC, learning much about the business environment in India before leaving to start an advisory and consulting firm, Metalogos, in July 2006. Since then, Mohit has worked with a number of start-ups and early stage companies across India, helping them scale up and become sustainable. He has great expertise in structuring transactions, financial modelling and looking for common sense solutions to complex problems.

Participants: Ahmas Nasir Formuli, Arian Halimi, Hashimi, Hasina, Humaira Rahmati, Lajaward Haqiqi, Mohammad Nasir Hashmi, Nabila Horkhsh, Ommolbanin Shamsia Hassani, Sara Noshadi.