About Us

Broader Aims and Objectives:

Kekkeyellam Foundation is registered as a non-governmental organization that aims to address issues of deprivation and economic disparity, discrimination, social justice, environmental degradation, equal opportunity and empowerment of the marginalized through the perspectives and tools of artists, writers, film makers and the public spirited people. It will work in tandem with the Governmental agencies by participating and taking up the development projects that could bring in social changes. With a view to have visibility to the projects and its impact on the life of the stakeholders, the activities of the foundation will be focused and implemented in specified rural/suburban areas, mostly as pilot projects to be replicated elsewhere. The youths, students, women, Dalits, the elderly and the common people of the area will be participating in the projects along with the artist's community.

KEKKEYELLAM FOUNDATION aims to create a stable platform for visual artists for information exchange, interactive communication, critical analysis, reflections and open discussions on art aesthetics and practices. This intellectual space will enable artists from multiple art disciplines, art critics, art activists and connoisseurs of art from different parts of the world to get together and get opportunities to interpenetrate, and interact with the local culture to understand, educate and work with them to develop a sustainable creative interactivity among them.

KEKKEYELLAM FOUNDATION is committed to promote India's culture, ethnic cuisine, medical pluralism, and holistic living concepts. It looks forward to partner in the flagship programs of the Government like Swatch Bharath Abhiyaan, Make –In-India, and Start Up India . Accordingly, Kekkeyellam Foundation will be orgainsing Agri-culture meets, job fair, farmers markets, skill development programs, health awareness campaigns, film shows, healthy waste management practices, organic farming, dairy development, ethnic cuisine outfits, India shoppe, etc. Through a series of exhibitions, art camps, artists-in-residency, artists entourage, and other constructive programs, Kekkeyellam Foundation envisages to connect the artist community to the development process in the country, and to catalyze their contribution to the cause of nation building. It wants to show case how contemporary art practices in India could take a constructive route and a positive role.

Eventhough the country in the public and private sectors make massive investment for development, the stakeholders are very narrowly affected, thanks to the excessive diversion of resources towards management and delayed execution. This is akin to attempting to transform the colour of the water in a pond by dropping a bottle of red ink, that gets scattered and immersed in the water body. But a small drop is enough to change the colour of water to RED, if it is dropped into a glass of water, where there is no diversion, no wastage. So, the underlying philosophy of Kekkeyellam Foundation is focused activities for visible development.

The Command Area

Kekkeyellam Foundation is currently focusing on northern Kerala, particularly Bekal region, which is rich in culture, arts and immense skill. Kerala's northern coast is far less tourist centered than the south, which for many is an attraction in its own right. The main draws in this part of coastal Kerala are the beautiful, undeveloped beaches, the enthralling folk art Theyyam procession rituals and Kerala's own martial art Kalaripayattu. Notable places in this region are Kannur, Kozhikode, Wynad, Thalassery and Kasargod, apart from numerous places of interest from the festival's perspective. Malabar region can be accessed by air (Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi and Mangalore airports) as well as by train.