Aagaaz Theatre Trust

What Aagaaz Theatre Trust does

Aagaaz Theatre Trust is a community-led non-profit arts organization registered under The Indian Trust Act 1882 in 2015, operating from Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, India. The organization uses theatre, play, movement, music, visual arts, and library-based learning to create inclusive spaces for children, adolescents, youth, and women from urban informal settlements. Its core offerings include Tana Bana (an arts-based pedagogy programme for socio-emotional and cognitive development), Khwāb Ghar (a permanent community arts centre and free library opened in 2022), and a nine-member theatre repertory that co-creates and performs original productions including Duniya Sabki, Raavan Aaya, Bhagi Hui Ladkiyan, and Rihla. Supporting programmes include Drama Jams (peer-sharing sessions), thematic school workshops (10 days to one year), and the Fursat aur Akshar women's programme focusing on literacy, numeracy, digital, and financial skills through arts-based methods.

The organization's business model is donation-driven, with all services provided free of charge to beneficiaries. It is registered for tax exemption under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. Go-to-market is community-led and ground-up: youth who are alumni of Aagaaz's programmes become facilitators and leaders, enabling long-term, slow engagement rather than short-term transactional service delivery. The organization maintains a hybrid distribution model spanning in-person community programmes, school-based workshops, public performances across 12+ Indian cities, and online Drama Jams via YouTube. Revenue, funding, and audited financial figures are not disclosed in public materials.

Name

Aagaaz Theatre Trust

Legal name

Aagaaz Theatre Trust

Website

https://aagaaztheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aagaaz Theatre Trust is a Delhi-based non-profit using theatre, arts, play, and a community library to deliver inclusive learning and dialogue spaces for children, adolescents, youth, and women from Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin, operating through a permanent community arts centre and a nine-member repertory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Education and Applied Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Community arts education
• Applied theatre programs
• Arts-based pedagogy
• Community library services
• Socio-emotional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Aagaaz operates as a not-for-profit organization registered under The Indian Trust Act 1882. The organization raises funds through donations, with all donations eligible for tax exemption under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aagaaz Theatre Trust is a nonprofit that uses theatre, arts, play, and a community library to create inclusive learning and dialogue spaces for children, adolescents, youth, and women in and around Nizamuddin Basti, New Delhi. Its core offerings are free community-based arts education and theatre programs, anchored by the Tana Bana arts-based pedagogy, the Khwāb Ghar community arts centre and library, and a nine-member repertory that stages original productions. The organization also runs Drama Jams (peer-sharing sessions), school-based thematic engagements, the Fursat aur Akshar women's programme, and an Early Years Programme, all delivered free of charge to community beneficiaries.

Product overview

Aagaaz Theatre Trust is a community-led arts organization operating at the intersection of theatre, well-being, and social justice. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs anchored by Tana Bana (its core arts-based pedagogy), Khwāb Ghar (a community arts centre and library), and a theatre repertory of nine young performers. Supporting programs include Drama Jams (peer-sharing sessions), Thematic Engagements (workshops with schools), and the Facilitators' Collective (professional development). The repertory produces stage productions including Duniya Sabki, Raavan Aaya, Bhagi Hui Ladkiyan, Rihla, and Agdam Bagdam. The organization works with children, adolescents, youth, and women from Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin and other communities, providing arts-based learning, library services, and empowerment programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tana Bana An arts-based pedagogy program at the core of Aagaaz's work that uses theatre and creative methodologies to build socio-emotional, cognitive, and artistic skills in children, while fostering long-term relationships with families in Nizamuddin Basti.
• Khwāb Ghar A community arts centre and free library located in Nizamuddin Basti, providing a safe space for the community, arts and library-based sessions, counselling rooms, film screenings, rehearsal space, and an open-air performance area.
• Aagaaz Repertory A theatre repertory of nine young performers from the community who co-create and perform plays, performing across theatre festivals, schools, and public spaces in India.
• Drama Jams A twice-monthly free peer-sharing space for anyone interested in drama games or working with people using drama, designed to innovate possibilities of play without a meta-facilitator.
• Thematic Engagements Sessions with student groups lasting 10 days to a year, focused on theatre-making and thematic concerns with children, adolescents, and young adults in schools and educational institutions.
• Facilitators' Collective A pool of reflective facilitators including theatre practitioners, teachers, filmmakers, musicians, and actors who share a desire to work with children through arts-based methodologies.
• Duniya Sabki A theatre production created in 2016 as part of Aagaaz's repertory, performed in festivals and public spaces across India.
• Raavan Aaya A theatre production created in 2017 featuring young performers from Aagaaz's repertory.
• Bhagi Hui Ladkiyan A theatre production created in 2018 by Aagaaz's repertory.
• Rihla A theatre production created in 2019 by the repertory, part of Project Rihla which engages adolescents and youth in citizenship and constitutional values through theatre.
• Agdam Bagdam A theatre production by Aagaaz's repertory.
• Nizamuddin ki Library A community library offering arts-integrated reading sessions, Shaam ki Library (evening reading), and Open Library (thematic engagements) for children, adolescents, and women.
• Fursat aur Akshar (Women's Programme) A safe space for women featuring reflective dialogue, adult literacy, numeracy, digital and financial literacy skills through arts-based and participatory methods.
• Early Years Programme Art-based and sensory activities for children aged 4-6 focusing on holistic Early Childhood Care and Education addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ community members engaged across age groups
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Community Library ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018Collaboration with The Community Library Project at Panchsheel Vihar. Mihir and Shahid engaged in library programme development and community library initiatives.
• The Hope ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Project Rihla - a programme for adolescents and youth (15-20 years) working on citizenship and constitutional values through theatre and arts-based exercises, workshops, and performance-making.
• Yellow StreetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with The Hope Project and Yellow Street for Project Rihla targeting adolescents and youth for citizenship education through theatre.
• CKS FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuzammil teaches with CKS Foundation's program in Delhi and Uttarakhand, extending Aagaaz's arts-based methodologies to other locations.
• Aga Khan Development NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAga Khan Foundation's Nizamuddin urban renewal Initiative. Vardhna Puri (Trustee) previously worked with AKDN. Anurupa Roy has used puppets for psychosocial interventions in conflict areas through various partnerships.
• People for ParityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNagina was a fellow with People for Parity, YP Foundation and the American State Department, as well as a fellowship from the Sahitya Kala Akademi.
• YP FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNagina was a fellow with YP Foundation and People for Parity, supporting her development as a community facilitator.
• Unlimited Delhi, ARThink South Asia, Changelooms FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese fellowship programmes mentored Sanyukta (Founder & Artistic Director) in strengthening Aagaaz's organizational development and applied theatre practice.
• Theatre ProfessionalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJehan Manekshaw (Advisory Board) is Founder Director of Theatre Professionals and co-convener of The Drama School Mumbai. Aagaaz's journey includes work with Theatre Professionals Education.
• Katkatha Puppet Arts TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnurupa Roy (Advisory Board) leads Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust. Puppetry work includes psychosocial interventions in conflict areas like Kashmir, Sri Lanka, and Manipur.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust: Delhi-based puppetry and performing-arts nonprofit led by Aagaaz advisory-board member Anurupa Roy; directly comparable as a community-engaged performing-arts NGO working in similar genres and city.
• Ninasam: Rural Karnataka-based performing-arts institute running residential theatre education, workshops, and touring productions; comparable in arts-education anchored in a specific community and touring model.
• Pandies' Theatre: A Mumbai-based feminist applied-theatre collective; directly comparable to Aagaaz in operating model of community-rooted applied theatre work, and Aagaaz's founder Sanyukta previously worked with them.
• Theatre Professionals / The Drama School, Mumbai: Mumbai-based theatre company and drama school led by advisory-board member Jehan Manekshaw; comparable as a performing-arts company combining stage productions with structured theatre education.

Broad incumbents

• Rangshankara: Established Bangalore-based performing-arts foundation running year-round theatre and festivals; comparable as a larger, longer-running theatre-anchored community arts organisation, but with a paid-ticket revenue model and broader operations.

Emerging players

• The Community Library Project: Delhi-based nonprofit running free community libraries; Aagaaz's Khwāb Ghar library programme is modelled similarly and the two organisations partner directly on library initiatives.
• CKS Foundation: Delhi/Uttarakhand education nonprofit where Aagaaz repertory member Muzammil teaches using arts-based methodologies; comparable as an education partner extending community arts work into other locations.

Others

• ComMutiny - The Youth Collective: Indian youth-development collective with arts and citizenship programming; Aagaaz advisory board member Kanika Sinha is its convener. Comparable in target audience (Indian adolescents and youth) and arts-based, reflective-dialogue methodology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aagaaztheatretrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/aagaaztheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aagaaz-theatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/aagaaztheatretrust
• Xx.com/aagaaztheatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aagaaz Theatre Trust