<p>Bengaluru: A thriving arts and community space in Kengeri, Courtyard Koota, is marking its seventh anniversary this August. The space will host a series of events that reflect its mission to bring inclusive, thought-provoking art to the neighbourhood.</p><p>Founded by architect Natasha Iype in 2018, the space has evolved into a cultural hub with an auditorium, library, and courtyard that host music, theatre, literature, film screenings, and game nights.</p><p>“I didn’t have a fixed blueprint when we started,” says Natasha, “but I wanted to create engagement with arts and literature — not just for a privileged few, but for all.”</p><p>The venue also runs a free community library and outreach activities for children from nearby government schools, including storytelling, reading hours, theatre productions, and adult literacy classes.</p>.South Western Railway to run special trains between Bengaluru- Thiruvananthapuram for festive season.<p>Natasha hopes the model will inspire similar hyperlocal cultural spaces in the city. “Why should someone have to travel to central Bengaluru for an arts experience? We hope every neighbourhood can have such a space, deeply rooted in its community,” she says.</p><p><strong>Programmes for August</strong></p><ul><li><p>The anniversary celebrations begin on August 1 with the concert 'Phir Se Suno Bhai' by Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy and Vedanth Bharadwaj, followed by stand-up comic Azeem Banatwalla on August 3.</p></li><li><p>Highlights include 'Bahinabai', a Bharatanatyam-based production by Vaishnavi Sushila on August 15, and 'Wedding Album', a play by Girish Karnad directed by Kishore Acharya, on August 16.</p></li><li><p>Other events feature an art workshop by the Aravani Art Project and a book talk on 'Whose River Is It Anyway?' with authors Kadambari Komandur, Namrata Narendra, and Megha Kashyap, in conversation with Madhuri Mandava from Paani.earth.</p></li></ul><p>For the full calendar, visit courtyardkoota.com or follow @courtyardkoota on Instagram.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: A thriving arts and community space in Kengeri, Courtyard Koota, is marking its seventh anniversary this August. The space will host a series of events that reflect its mission to bring inclusive, thought-provoking art to the neighbourhood.</p><p>Founded by architect Natasha Iype in 2018, the space has evolved into a cultural hub with an auditorium, library, and courtyard that host music, theatre, literature, film screenings, and game nights.</p><p>“I didn’t have a fixed blueprint when we started,” says Natasha, “but I wanted to create engagement with arts and literature — not just for a privileged few, but for all.”</p><p>The venue also runs a free community library and outreach activities for children from nearby government schools, including storytelling, reading hours, theatre productions, and adult literacy classes.</p>.South Western Railway to run special trains between Bengaluru- Thiruvananthapuram for festive season.<p>Natasha hopes the model will inspire similar hyperlocal cultural spaces in the city. “Why should someone have to travel to central Bengaluru for an arts experience? We hope every neighbourhood can have such a space, deeply rooted in its community,” she says.</p><p><strong>Programmes for August</strong></p><ul><li><p>The anniversary celebrations begin on August 1 with the concert 'Phir Se Suno Bhai' by Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy and Vedanth Bharadwaj, followed by stand-up comic Azeem Banatwalla on August 3.</p></li><li><p>Highlights include 'Bahinabai', a Bharatanatyam-based production by Vaishnavi Sushila on August 15, and 'Wedding Album', a play by Girish Karnad directed by Kishore Acharya, on August 16.</p></li><li><p>Other events feature an art workshop by the Aravani Art Project and a book talk on 'Whose River Is It Anyway?' with authors Kadambari Komandur, Namrata Narendra, and Megha Kashyap, in conversation with Madhuri Mandava from Paani.earth.</p></li></ul><p>For the full calendar, visit courtyardkoota.com or follow @courtyardkoota on Instagram.</p>