Introduction

Arnawaz Vasudev Charities, a private trust, was set up by S.G. Vasudev following the untimely death of his artist wife Arnawaz in 1988. The principal objectives of the Trust are to promote art education and art activities, and to provide financial assistance to deserving young artists and art students.

The founding trustees are: Shanta Guhan, Girish Karnad and S.G. Vasudev.

The present trustees are B.O. Shailesh, Bharani V Setlur, Mala Chinnappa, R.M.Palaniappan and S.G.Vasudev (Managing Trustee).

AV Charities has produced a short film on Arnawaz with financial support from MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) and the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. The 18-minute documentary, made in 1989, was directed by Girish Karnad and shot by Rajiv Menon. It has also published a book on Arnawaz written by Geeta Doctor, with financial assistance from the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

The main activity of the organisation is the scholarships programme launched in 1989, which provides financial assistance to deserving young artists on an annual basis. Over the past 31 years, 200 artists have benefited from this programme. More recently AV Charities has been extending financial assistance to artists in the name of the late Rani Nanjappa (an artist and close friend of Arnawaz and Vasudev), thanks to an endowment from her family.

AV Charities has also organised art camps and workshops, besides providing support to other art-related activities. In addition it has financed the production of exhibition catalogues and other publications.