Ms. Lakshmi Venkatraman founded the KLCT. Being an artist herself, she had a deep interest in both visual and performing arts which led her to discover traditional art forms that are dying in the wake of modernism. She took it upon herself to financially support and uplift these art forms that are passed on as inherent knowledge through generations, from perishing.
Eventually, this led her to collect some rare and precious pieces of art which then led her to open and run an art gallery successfully during her time. Through this, she brought to light hundreds of artists and artisans by not only displaying them in her gallery by also popularising them through her writings and documentaries. This led her to branch out and begin art education for children.
KLCT supported the homes of a few nadaswaram artists during the pandemic, a few differently abled artists practicing visual arts, and many local artisans whom she brought in connect with some schools that conducted regular workshops for children, in turn creating a pattern of livelihood that was mutually beneficial to both parties. KLCT continues to play an active role in engaging with such projects till date.
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259/100 Ragasudha Apartments, Royapettah High Road, Chennai 600014. | office@klctrust.org
259/100 Ragasudha Apartments,
Royapettah High Road, Chennai 600014.
Marudam has been conducting the craft week for the past 12 years where ,over the course of a week, children from various schools get to learn crafts directly from artisans who have been pursuing their crafts for livelihood. It has been an enriching experience for adults, students and the artisans to immersively participate in craft as a process.
KLCT has supported the event more than once and the trustees also participate in the event.
The ASEFA, organisation based on Gandhian principles runs many schools across the country. KLCT supported three schools run by this organisation, with storage for the art and educational materials for the teacher and children.
An Ar competition was jointly organised by Cancer Institute, Chennai and KLCT for the children of Cancer patients in 2017.
