Despite the rapid growth of India’s contemporary art ecosystem, conversations around intellectual property, contracts, authorship, licensing, and artist rights often remain inaccessible to emerging practitioners. Knowing is Doing responds to this gap by creating a space for artists and cultural workers to engage with legal knowledge before moments of crisis arise.

Led by Bavisha Varigonda, this two-day workshop brings together practising artists, art students, and cultural workers for discussions, collaborative exercises, and reflective activities. Participants will explore the legal journey of an artwork, learn how to read and negotiate contracts, and examine the rights and responsibilities that shape contemporary artistic practice.

Moving beyond legal literacy, the workshop also explores artist manifestos as tools for collective thinking and action. Through guided writing, discussion, and shared learning, participants will reflect on questions of agency, authorship, and creative labour while imagining more equitable futures for artistic practice.

Combining practical knowledge with collective inquiry, the workshop equips participants with the confidence and tools to navigate professional relationships, understand contracts, and advocate for their creative work.

About the Facilitator

Bavisha Varigonda is an independent curator and researcher whose work engages with contemporary art, critical pedagogy, and collaborative learning. Her research explores questions of labour, agency, access, and knowledge-sharing within cultural ecosystems.