ThinkArts

What ThinkArts does

ThinkArts is a Sec.8 Not-for-Profit company founded in December 2013 by Ruchira Das and headquartered in Kolkata, India. The organization curates and delivers arts programs — including theatre productions, literary festivals, reading rooms, sensorial installations, and workshops — for children and young people from infancy through age 18, with an explicit focus on serious, non-purely-entertainment creative programming. Signature offerings include the 'Arts for Juniors' flagship program (running since 2018 with the Goethe-Institut), the 'Junior Kolkata Literary Meet' (curated 2017-2022), the closed ThinkArts Corner reading room (2013-May 2024), and original productions such as Into the Daydreaming (for babies 3-15 months), Dreamscape, Cooking Pot, and Gajam. International collaborations extend the catalog with Indian premieres of works from Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, and Norway.

The operating model is grant-funded and partnership-driven rather than commercial. ThinkArts does not charge participants for most programming and has no disclosed revenue or pricing; it is supported by project-based grants from international arts councils (Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, British Council, Goethe-Institut, Arts Council of Wales), embassies (Switzerland, Italy, Norway), and recurring partnerships with 100+ institutions including schools, museums, galleries, and international theatre companies. Delivery happens through direct programming at partner venues, touring festival appearances (notably at Serendipity Arts Festival), online masterclasses, and digital productions, with content hosted on the organization's website and social channels.

The team is lean (1-10 employees including the founder, two Programmes Associates, and occasional interns), supplemented by an associate artist network. Geographic reach spans India with international partnership-funded excursions into Europe, Oceania, and Bhutan; the founder's concurrent role as Director of Arts at British Council India (2023-2025) and Artistic Director at Arthshila (since 2020) reflects an unusual overlap between organizational leadership and senior institutional roles in the broader Indian and UK arts ecosystems.

Name

ThinkArts

Legal name

ThinkArts

Website

https://thinkarts.co.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ThinkArts is a Kolkata-based Sec.8 not-for-profit founded in 2013 that curates and delivers arts programs — theatre, literary festivals, sensorial installations, and workshops — for children and young people across India, funded by international arts council grants and delivered through 100+ institutional partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Arts Education and Cultural Programming

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Children's arts programming
• Performing arts education
• Early years theatre
• Cultural exchange programmes
• Youth literary festivals

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Project-Based Revenue: ThinkArts operates as a Not-for-Profit company (registered under Sec.8 of Indian Companies Act, 2013) and generates revenue primarily through grants from arts councils (Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, British Council, Goethe-Institut), project-based collaborations with international partners, and institutional partnerships. Their ThinkArts Grant program for artists is supported by their own initiative. The organization does not appear to charge fees for most of its programming targeting children.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ThinkArts curates and delivers transformative arts experiences for children and young people across India, including flagship programmes (Arts for Juniors with Goethe-Institut), theatre productions (Into the Daydreaming, Dreamscape, Cooking Pot, Neer), literary festivals (Junior Kolkata Literary Meet), and international collaborations (Stories Old and New, 5800 Miles of Stories, Millipede). Programming spans sensorial installations for babies aged 3-15 months through literary festivals for teenagers, delivered through schools, museums, theatres, festivals, and online channels. The organisation works through a 100+ partner network of schools, museums, arts councils, and international collaborators, with revenue derived primarily from grants and institutional partnerships.

Product overview

ThinkArts is an arts organization for children and young people offering a diverse portfolio of programmes, productions, and initiatives. The core offerings include Arts for Juniors (a flagship programme with the Goethe-Institut since 2018), the annual Junior Kolkata Literary Meet (curated 2017-2022), and the ThinkArts Corner reading room (closed May 2024). ThinkArts Productions encompass digital pieces (When The Colours Ran Away, Dreamscape at Home), theatre productions (Neer, Cooking Pot, Enemy Pudding), and closed productions (The Lonely King & Queen, Kaath, Into the Daydreaming, Dreamscape). The organization runs signature programmes like Let Me Tell You A Story (100+ stories from children) and Let Me Draw You A Story (drawing-based storytelling with Swiss partners). International collaborations include Stories Old And New, 5800 Miles of Stories, Millipede, and the Early Years' Theatre Lab with FRATZ International. ThinkArts also facilitates the ThinkArts Grant supporting artists creating work for young audiences. The organization operates as a Not-for-Profit company registered under Sec.8 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013, based in Kolkata.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arts for Juniors: Flagship programme running since 2018 in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Kolkata/Max Mueller Bhavan for children to engage with art, music, and books
• KinderKunstKiste (K3)
• Let Me Draw You A Story
• Engage
• Dreamscape
• Into the Daydreaming

Products and services

• Arts for Juniors A flagship programme running since 2018 in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Kolkata / Max Mueller Bhavan, designed for children to engage with art, music, and books through diverse activities. Introduces young minds to over 40+ cultural figures such as artists, authors, and musicians from Germany. Targeted at children and delivered through partner schools and cultural venues across India.
• Junior Kolkata Literary Meet Annual literary festival for children curated by ThinkArts from 2017 to 2022, featuring renowned authors and interactive sessions for young audiences across multiple sessions.
• Let Me Tell You A Story An online repository of 100 stories written by children aged 6-10+, with 15 illustrated by Swiss artists and 45 narrated by storytellers in India. Created during the pandemic to provide children a unique space to share their voices.
• Let Me Draw You A Story A project inviting children in India and Bhutan (ages 9-12) to respond to Swiss children's book extracts through drawing, in collaboration with Swiss illustrators who create new artworks inspired by children's imagination.
• Early Years' Theatre Lab and Masterclass A collaboration with FRATZ International consisting of masterclasses facilitated by Sananda Mukhopadhyaya, followed by mentorship for two Early Years Theatre practitioners who then presented their work at the FRATZ International Festival in Berlin.
• Into the Daydreaming A multi-sensorial dance production for babies aged 3-15 months and their caregivers, created by Swedish choreographer Dalija Acin Thelander. Incorporates contemporary dance, music, and visual arts within an immersive, installation-based environment.
• Dreamscape A sensorial experience for toddlers between 1.5-3 years, featuring five different worlds with various textures, sounds, smells, and materials in a thoughtfully created environment. Conceptualised by Ruchira Das.
• Cooking Pot A unique theatre performance for baby audiences under the Theatre for Babies project, in collaboration with Theatr Iolo, Cardiff.
• Millipede A virtual shoe shop created to generate ideas and artistic responses to Carbon Footprint, addressing climate change. Commissioned by British Council as part of The Climate Connection for COP26; co-presented by National Theatre of Scotland and ThinkArts.
• When The Colours Ran Away A digital theatre piece animated by C. G. Salamander, commissioned for the Vancouver International Children's Festival.
• Stories Old and New A project creating stories for children aged 3-6 years, featuring Welsh and Indian artists developing theatrical performances inspired by folklore from both countries. A collaboration between Sarah Argent, Kevin Lewis, and ThinkArts.
• 5800 Miles of Stories An international collaboration at Serendipity Arts Festival 2024 between Outback Theatre for Young People (Australia) and ThinkArts (India), bringing together four artists to exchange ideas, stories, and artistry across borders.
• ThinkArts Grant A grant programme initiated in 2021 for artists to create pieces for young audiences that could be shared online; over 3 years, 16 new pieces were created, several invited for international children's festivals.
• Engage An international online forum on arts for children and young people, presented by ThinkArts in association with Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata in November 2020, featuring speakers from 13 countries.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller BhavancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Goethe-Institut Kolkata/Mumbai for Arts for Juniors programme (since 2018), KinderKunstKiste initiative, and various German arts programming. Supports bringing German theatre and arts to Indian children.
• Swiss Arts Council Pro HelvetiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor funder and partner for Let Me Tell You A Story and Let Me Draw You A Story projects. Supports Swiss-Indian cultural exchange for children's literature and arts.
• British Council IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Director of Arts (Ruchira Das) served at British Council India 2023-2025. Strong ongoing partnership for UK-India cultural exchange, including Millipede (Climate Connection), Silk River, and various theatre collaborations.
• British Council WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Stories Old and New project celebrating Year of Wales in India 2024, supporting Welsh-Indian theatre and storytelling collaborations.
• FRATZ International (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly Years Theatre Lab and Masterclass collaboration. ThinkArts curates Indian selection for FRATZ International Festival and facilitated mentorship for Indian early years practitioners.
• Outback Theatre for Young People (Australia)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in 5800 Miles of Stories project at Serendipity Arts Festival 2024, exchanging ideas, stories, and artistry across borders.
• National Theatre of ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenters of Millipede virtual shoe shop project addressing climate change, working with Science Gallery Bengaluru and Edinburgh Science Festival.
• Serendipity Arts FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership at Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa. ThinkArts has presented productions and participated in 5800 Miles of Stories project.
• ASSITEJ IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThinkArts is a member of ASSITEJ India, the international association for theatre for young audiences, providing network connections globally.
• Curious Seed (Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Teenage Times Remix Kolkata (2018) and other projects. Long-term partnership bringing Scottish theatre to Indian audiences.
• Theatr Iolo (Wales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre for Babies collaboration including Out of the Blue and Shishu Baban projects, with workshops by Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis.
• Helios Theater (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced Kaath, the Indian version of Woodbeat, supported by Goethe-Institut. Deep collaboration on early years theatre.
• De Stilte (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Indian premiere of Flying Cow at various venues in India.
• Various Indian Schools (100+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of schools including DPS Patna, DPS Kolkata, La Martiniere, Modern High School, Birla schools, Loreto schools, and many others for arts programming.
• Various Museums and Cultural InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners including Indian Museum Kolkata, National Museum Delhi, Victoria Memorial, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata Centre for Creativity for programming and exhibitions.
• Imaginate (Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Ruchira Das for residency in Edinburgh 2016. ThinkArts residency programme connection.
• Catherine Wheels Theatre Company (Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly collaboration on theatre for young audiences including playwriting workshops at Junior Kolkata Literary Meet.
• Kinetika (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilk River project as part of UK India year of culture, exploring river connections between Thames and Ganges.
• Consulate General of Italy KolkataminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed among arts councils and embassies supporting ThinkArts programming.
• Royal Norwegian EmbassyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed among arts councils and embassies supporting ThinkArts programming.
• Embassy of Switzerland in IndiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Let Me Draw You A Story project under Sustainability with a plus initiative, in addition to various Swiss collaborations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Imaginate: Edinburgh-based organization curating international performing arts for children and young people, including the annual Imaginate Festival. Closely comparable to ThinkArts in mission, scale, and curatorial approach, and a former host for ThinkArts' founder residency.
• Polka Theatre: London-based children's theatre producing work for ages 0-13. Directly comparable mission of creating transformative theatre experiences for young audiences, with similar focus on early-years programming and dedicated venue.
• Catherine Wheels Theatre Company: Scottish theatre company creating high-quality theatre and dance for children and young people. Early collaborator with ThinkArts on theatre for young audiences and playwriting workshops at Junior Kolkata Literary Meet.
• Unicorn Theatre: London's leading children's theatre, producing and presenting world-class work for young audiences aged 2-21. Highly comparable mission with deeper production capabilities, a permanent venue, and a stronger national brand.
• New Victory Theater: New York City's first and only full-time performing arts theater for kids, families, and school groups. Directly comparable mission focused on performing arts for young audiences, with a permanent venue and a comparable curatorial emphasis on international work.
• Helios Theater: German theatre company specializing in early-years theatre. Co-produced Kaath (the Indian version of Woodbeat) with ThinkArts; highly comparable niche focus on theatre for very young audiences and cross-border cultural exchange.
• Theatr Iolo: Cardiff-based theatre company specializing in work for very young audiences (babies and toddlers). Direct collaborator with ThinkArts on Theatre for Babies projects including Cooking Pot, with highly comparable mission and target age segments.
• De Stilte: Dutch dance theatre company producing work for young audiences. Partnered with ThinkArts on the Indian premiere of Flying Cow; comparable in creating dance-based productions designed specifically for children.
• Outback Theatre for Young People: Australian regional theatre company creating work with and for young people in rural and underserved communities. Direct partner with ThinkArts on 5800 Miles of Stories at Serendipity Arts Festival 2024, with highly comparable mission.

Others

• FRATZ International: Berlin-based international festival and network for performing arts for very young audiences. Partner organization with ThinkArts via the Early Years Theatre Lab; operates more as a festival/network than a producing company but shares ThinkArts' deep early-years specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thinkartskolkata
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkartsforchildren

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ThinkArts