About Us
Welcome to ABC
Art Beyond Contemporary Foundation
Art Beyond Contemporary (ABC) is a non-profit arts & culture organization founded in 2024 by artist Rageshree Ranade. Based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, with a presence in New Delhi, ABC’s attempt is to challenge the conventional narratives of how contemporary art and culture are experienced and percieved in India.
At its core, ABC is dedicated to tracing the trajectories of Art diverging into various streams like visual art, craft, and music. We create platforms for experimentation, transdisciplinary collaboration, and cultural renewal.
A key pillar of ABC’s mission is to bridge the gap between academic art & culture education and real-world practice.Through mentorship, workshops, hands-on learning, and professional exposure, ABC empowers dreamers of all age to develop practical skills, build networks, and thrive in today’s complex creative ecosystem.
Whether through residencies, fellowships, exhibitions, community engagement, or research-driven projects, ABC is committed to supporting bold voices, bridging disciplines, and shaping a more inclusive, connected art & culture landscape.
Our Mission
Bridge the gap between academic education and real-world practice
At ABC, we trace the evolving paths of artistic expression across visual arts, craft, and music while creating bold platforms for experimentation, collaboration, and cultural renewal. Our mission is rooted in bridging the gap between academic arts education and real-world practice. We nurture creative minds of all ages through mentorship, workshops, immersive learning, and exposure to the professional arts ecosystem.
Through residencies, fellowships, exhibitions, and community-driven projects, we amplify independent voices, connect diverse disciplines, and shape a more inclusive and interconnected cultural landscape.
Our Vision
Envisioning the transcendence of Art & Culture
To cultivate a world where artistic expression transcends boundaries—geographical, academic, and cultural—and where every creative voice finds space, support, and resonance. Art Beyond Contemporary envisions a future where art is lived, shared, and celebrated as a dynamic force that connects and transforms communities.
Our Journey
The Story Behind Art Beyond Contemporary Foundation
Founded in 2025 by Rageshree Ranade, Art Beyond Contemporary began as a response to the growing gap between academic art education and real-world creative practice. While institutions often focus on theory and technique, many young artists struggle to translate that learning into meaningful, lived experiences. ABC was founded to bridge that divide, offering a space where knowledge meets action, and creativity is nurtured beyond the classroom.
We believe that true artistic growth happens in conversation, with mentors, communities, materials, and cultures. That’s why our programs, ranging from community engagements, workshops, residencies to collaborations, are designed to support not just skill-building, but self-discovery, experimentation, and inclusive dialogue.
At its core, Art Beyond Contemporary is more than a platform, it’s a movement toward a more connected, reflective, and responsive creative practice. Rooted in Jabalpur and now expanding in New Delhi, ABC is a space where visual art, craft, and music come together in meaningful, inclusive ways.
Through community engagements, mentorships, workshops, residencies, and exhibitions, we support emerging voices and foster a culture of collaboration and renewal. Our journey is about building a connected artistic future, where learning and practice go hand in hand, and creativity knows no boundaries.
Our Work
Catalyzing Impact Through Meaningful Collaborations
Mentorship Programs
Guiding emerging artists through learning, exposure, and real-world practice.
Workshops & Training
Hands-on sessions fostering skill development and creative confidence.
Residencies & Fellowships
Providing space, resources, and opportunities for deep artistic exploration.
Exhibitions & Events
Showcasing diverse voices across cultures and creative disciplines.
Community Engagement
Building inclusive networks connecting art with wider society.
Core Values
Core Values Heading
- Transdisciplinary Practice
- Bridging Practice and Education
- Cultural Regeneration
- Community Engagement
- Decentralization & Access
Transdisciplinary Practice
At the heart of ABC lies a dedication to tracing the many trajectories of art across visual arts, craft, and music. We foster transdisciplinary dialogue and create space for authentic/unfiltered expression that both honors India’s diverse creative traditions and welcomes experimentation, fluidity, and new narratives.
Bridging Practice and Education
Cultural Regeneration
Community Engagement
Decentralization & Access
Our Team
Meet the Creative Minds Behind ABC’s Vision
A collective of artists, educators, and cultural leaders united to empower creativity and drive meaningful change through art.
Rageshree Ranade
Founded in 2025 by Rageshree Ranade, Art Beyond Contemporary began as a response to the growing gap between academic art education and real-world creative practice. While institutions often focus on theory and technique, many young artists struggle to translate that learning into meaningful, lived experiences. ABC was founded to bridge that divide, offering a space where knowledge meets action, and creativity is nurtured beyond the classroom.
Shambhavi Pathak
Shambhavi Pathak- Shambhavi is a researcher and an art enthusiast with a keen interest in finding interactions between contemporary art, culture and the society. With a background in sociology (Masters in Arts from South Asian University, Delhi), she loves to explore innovative ways to connect art with education, public discourse and community building.
Advisory Board
Rida Ali
Rida Ali is a social entrepreneur and development practitioner with over a decade of experience in building and scaling initiatives that combine creativity, community, and social impact. She is also the founder of Bucket List, an organization that has reached thousands of children and young people through innovative programs in education, sports, and community development.
Currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Innovation at the University of Cambridge, Rida brings with her a strong background in strategy, programme design, and cross-sector partnerships. She has consulted on global campaigns and has worked extensively at the intersection of identity, advocacy, and youth empowerment.
Her expertise lies in leveraging entrepreneurship, innovation, and participatory approaches to create financially, socially, and environmentally sustainable models. Passionate about the arts as a medium for change, Rida is excited to support Art Beyond Contemporary Foundation in shaping its vision and expanding its impact.
Premjish Achari
Premjish Achari- Premjish Achari is a curator and writer based in Delhi, whose curatorial practice spans a diverse range of exhibitions, including “Imperial Silhouettes: Shadows of Sovereignty” (Abu Dhabi, 2024-25), “Luminous Reveries” (Delhi, 2024), “Inscapes: In Search of a Place” (New Delhi, 2023), “Things are vanishing before us” (New Delhi, 2023), and the Student’s Biennale for the Kochi Biennale Edition (2022-2023)., “All Canaries Bear Watching”, part of the Indo-UK research collaboration GRID Heritage Project, JNU, (New Delhi, 2022), “A time for Farewells” (Haverford College, Pennsylvania and Prameya Art Foundation, New Delhi, 2019). He also played a pivotal role as Editorial Supervisor and Programme Head for “Lokame Tharavadu” (2021), a major contemporary art survey exhibition by the Kochi Biennale Foundation. Premjish received the Pro Helvetia Art Writers’ Award 2021, leading to a residency at Atelier Mondial, Basel, and the publication of “Lure of Collaboration: Dissecting Consensus.” He was also honored with the Prameya Art Foundation’s Art Scribes Award, which included a residency at Château de La Napoule, France. His writings have been featured in notable publications such as “What Does Art/Artist Think? Making a Case for Artistic Practice as Research”, in Journal for Artistic Research, (2022), “Portrait of an Artist as an Individual”, in Altaf: Early Drawings and “Iconic: Masterpieces of Indian Modern Art Edition 2 Volume 1” by Delhi Art Gallery (both 2023), and “Traversing the ‘Blind Spot’: Art Pedagogy and the Student Biennale” in Unframed (2023). Beyond his curatorial and writing work, Premjish conceptualized and initiated the Kaee Kolkata City Lab, Kolkata, and the Odisha Craft Odyssey, Bhubaneswar. He previously served as a visiting faculty member at Shiv Nadar University, teaching art history and theory for seven years, and currently holds the position of Curator at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Delhi.
Sumantra Sengupta
Founded in 2025 by Rageshree Ranade, Art Beyond Contemporary began as a response to the growing gap between academic art education and real-world creative practice. While institutions often focus on theory and technique, many young artists struggle to translate that learning into meaningful, lived experiences. ABC was founded to bridge that divide, offering a space where knowledge meets action, and creativity is nurtured beyond the classroom.
Support Us
Help Us Execute Our Vision
Support Art Beyond Contemporary in empowering artists and transforming communities. Your involvement—through volunteering, partnerships, or donations—helps us create inclusive platforms where creativity thrives and voices are heard.
