Gaiety Theatre Gears Up for the Third H.C. Rai Memorial ArtFest

Abhivyakti, in collaboration with the Department of Language and Culture, H.P., is all set to host the 3rd edition of Impressions and Expressions: H.C. Rai Memorial ArtFest 2026, an annual cultural celebration dedicated to the life, vision, and artistic legacy of Late Prof. H.C. Rai, a legendary artist, educator, and Founder Principal of the first Government College of Arts, H.P., and Rajkiya Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Shimla.

The festival is scheduled from 16th to 22nd October 2026 (daily from 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM) at The Tavern Hall, Gaiety Theatre, Shimla, and will be officially inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Dolly Ahluwalia, a renowned actor and three-time National Film Award winner for costumes alongside being a Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, on October 16, 2026, at 11:30 AM.

This year, the ArtFest celebrates the creative journeys of eight distinguished women artists—Sulakshna Arya, Tina Saxena, Veenita Dar, Sayonee Chatterjee, Somita Singh, Shivani Larzoo, Ruchika, and Nandika Sharma—bringing together diverse voices, mediums, experiences, and artistic expressions. Coinciding with the festive period of Navratra, the celebration gains added resonance by acknowledging the strength, creativity, and many dimensions of the feminine spirit. Founded in 1994 in Shimla with Prof. H.C. Rai serving as its first President, Abhivyakti has remained committed to fostering art and culture across Himachal Pradesh. From theatre, poetry, music, and visual arts to community-based workshops in villages and prisons, Abhivyakti has worked relentlessly for more than three decades to carry art beyond galleries and into people’s lives.

The journey began in 2023 with the Centenary ArtFest at Shimla’s historic Gaiety Theatre, celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Prof. Rai, and evolved into the first edition of the memorial art festival in October 2024 to create a vibrant dialogue across generations. The festival’s expansion reflects its growing cultural and economic impact, with future plans to extend the event to national and international levels while establishing a premier cultural platform that creates an economically viable market for participating artists and supports local communities through cultural tourism. Highlights of this edition include workshops on live sketching and watercolors aimed at fostering a deeper connection between artists, children, and the public, exemplifying how art enriches individual lives and strengthens community bonds.

The grand closing ceremony on October 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM will be presided over by the Guest of Honour, Ajay Kumar Sharma, GM of SJVN, and will feature a special solo theatre performance of “Ma, Mujhe Tagore Bana De” by Luckyjee Gupta. The organizers gratefully acknowledge the Department of Language and Culture, H.P., for providing invaluable support in bringing this artistic vision to life, and look forward to welcoming all art enthusiasts and collectors, both young and old, to this vibrant celebration of creativity where the power of art continues to transcend boundaries and bridge generations. For more details and inquiries, please contact the event organizers at 98211 04160, email abhivyaktiartculture@gmail.com, or visit the website www.hcraiart.com.