The Prasiddha Foundation was established in 1991 with the purpose of fostering love and appreciation for all forms of art and to work through the medium of arts for the promotion of national and international cultural contact. Many high profile festivals that have been organised by Prasiddha Foundation are today considered among the best administered platforms of art in the country. Promotion, Propagation and Preservation in the field of Arts has motivated Prasiddha Foundation to constantly readdress the Arts and redesign Festivals towards sensitizing and enlarging the mass base of cultural consumers.
The Prasiddha Foundation’s two flagship Festivals that featured almost all the top-notch performers of the Country were Sharad Vaibhava and Eka Aneka. Sharad Vaibhava pioneered a colloquium built around a theme and introduced interfacing and dialoguing between artists of different genres and conducted annually from 1991-2003. Eka Aneka was an all night music /dance Festival that re-introduced to Bangalore the viewing of dance and music recitals all night long to re-inforce that Art promoted peace and harmony and was available for all to savour. This event also took place annually from 1993-2004. Almost 10,000 artistes have performed for Prasiddha Foundation in these Festivals.
The most significant tourism directed cultural initiative of the Prasiddha Foundation, started in 1995, was the impressive Hampi Vijayotsav, set amidst the awesome landscape of Hampi. It was hailed as the Indian Avignon. Vijayotsav brought to life the famous rocks of Hampi and reiterated the greatness and grandeur of the famous archeological site. This initiative of Prasiddha Foundation was one of the instruments in securing for Hampi the UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site. Vijayotsav, the Hampi Festival was handed over to the Karnataka Government to organise from 1998 and is ongoing.
The Prasiddha Foundation has organised several dance and music workshops over the years that has benefited hundreds of upcoming artistes in Bangalore and in Karnataka at large. Dance classes and dance choreographies are part of the ongoing activities of the Trust. Sringara, Shuchi, Ujjwala, Rhythm & Harmony, Call of the Flute Krishna’s Widows, Panchajanya-the sights & sounds of India, Sita- Parallel Realities and Vande Mataramare some of the landmark choreographies of Prasiddha Foundation. Infact, Panchajanya-sights & sounds of India was the first attempt to capture the major dance forms and musical styles of the Country in one production which has been emulated and re-done by many well-known dancers of today.
The Prasiddha Foundation lobbied with the Union Ministry of Railways in 1995 to procure for all artistes travelling for performances by train a 50% concession in 1st Class and 75 % concession in 2nd Class fares. This benefited hundreds of thousands of artistes all over the Country who enjoy this concession to date.
Prasiddha Foundation produced a 13-episode Television Serial - SHRUTI - based on the life of a dancer-heroine which was top of charts for the entire duration of the telecast. This was directed by renowned film – maker - Sri. M S Satyu.
Prasiddha Foundation was commissioned by Bangalore Doordarshan to produce and direct a documentary on 50 years of dance in Karnataka ‘Natyakriti’ - which was nationally awarded.
In 1999, Prasiddha Foundation organised a Fund Raiser for the Kargil War Widows.
'Karnataka for Kargil' - and donated Rs. 7 lacs to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
In a unique honour accorded to the Prasiddha Foundation, the Dept. Of Posts released an Envelope (First Day Cover) with a cancelled stamp of the Delhi International Arts Festival and a personal My Stamp of the Festival Director and Founder Ms. Prathibha Prahlad.
Dance training, choreographies, workshops, colloquiums apart, Prasiddha Foundation believes in enriching landscapes and mindscapes through the medium of the arts. The Foundation has been leased land by the Government of Karnataka and is in the process of constructing The PRASIDDHA CENTRE, a state-of-art performance and practice spaces in Bangalore.
The Prasiddha Dance Repertory comprises well known professional dancers who work under the choregraphic direction of Smt. Prathibha Prahlad, a Padma awardee. With a strong traditional base, the Repertory is known for a very contemporary approach and presentation.
Beautiful music that is original, classical, yet eclectic is fused into dance movements that range from stillness to joyous gaiety.
The Repertory has won accolades wherever they have performed for giving a contemporary, global voice to Bharatanatyam.