A unique arts festival that includes transgenders

The city will play host to the International Trans Arts Festival in the third week of September, where noted artists from the transgender community would perform.

Hosted by the International Arts and Cultural Foundation in Bengaluru, headed by photo journalist Srivatsa Shandilya, the festival aims to celebrate arts and artists beyond the gender divide and prejudice, and present them in an inclusive space.

In its second edition this year, the event is being supported by the Department of Kannada and Culture and the State Women and Child Department, besides the Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi; and Indira Gandhi National Centre For Arts, Bangalore, South Zone Cultural Centre.

The event — which also includes theatre, music and dance performances and movies — will have a curtain raiser on August 25. It would be a dance performance, titled 'Colours of Dance', and presented by Dr Narthaki Nataraj. The event will be held at the Sevasadan auditorium, Malleswaram.