It has been a long, uncharacteristically silent pause at the otherwise-buzzing G5A warehouse in Laxmi Mills Estate, Mahalaxmi. It’s natural then that like all beginnings, now that the G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture is set to host a five-day art and culture festival, founder-artistic director Anuradha Parikh admits that she’s a bundle of nerves. “It’s deeply moving and of course, very exciting. It’s been so difficult these past months, keeping our doors shut and listening to the emptiness and silence,” Parikh tells us, days ahead of  ‘should art 2021’.

Ringing in their sixth anniversary, the festival brings together artistes and audiences — both starved for offline experiences — at their Mahalaxmi address, treating them with music, storytelling, movement, literature, culinary arts, a series of launches, and conversations. “The festival, for us, is an opportunity to pause, reflect and celebrate. It is a time for us to ensure that we are on track and that we continue our season with a focus that is sharp and unwavering, a lightness of foot that comes from enough riyaaz, and rigour that emerges from intent and dedication,” Parikh explains.