SARA

Sustainable Alternatives for Rural Accord

Sustainable Alternatives for Rural Accord

SARA Centre is a community-driven, farmers’ and artists-run initiative in Dombekoppa Village of the Shimoga District in Karnataka, India. Established as a platform for dialogue, SARA Centre invites artists, intellectuals, environmentalists, farmers, teachers, and students to share and raise public awareness about sustainable living practices that specifically address the ecological concerns of the region. Situated within the agricultural areas of the Western Ghats, the Centre not only responds to local farming and environmental concerns it also aims to create an active forum for knowledge exchange about broader ecological issues.

•SARA is an apolitical forum where various stakeholders can gather to assess and discuss issues relating to the impact of post-industrialisation on contemporary, agrarian-based localities.

•SARA aims to generate dialogues on conservancy and sustainability within the local community and to create a space where one can see the Anthropocene effects on our environment.

•Through exhibitions, art activities, and hands-on, pragmatic learning modules, SARA aims to inform younger generations and teachers about the present condition of the environment and the sustainability of lifestyle choices.

.•SARA plans to curate residency programs for contemporary artists, scientists, and resource persons.  The residency programme will work with the community to innovate sustainable alternatives to meet energy needs, to encourage better water management skills and to develop sustainable food production in response to local conditions and available resources.

•SARA actively works alongside the local community to encourage sensitivity and sensible innovations that specifically respond to easing demands of agrarian practice (reducing labour, time and effort, etc.)