A Kolkata-based organization, Banglanatak dot com, has been awarded a grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2014. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the American Center in Kolkata, led by Director Joanne Joria. Musicians representing the three music genres featured in the project performed and engaged with the media during the event.
The project aims to document and preserve traditional folk music genres of Bengal, specifically Bhawaiya songs from North Bengal, Bhatiali songs from the Sunderbans in South Bengal, and Bangla Qawwali from Kolkata, Nadia, and Murshidabad. These musical traditions are facing challenges due to modern entertainment forms and are nearing extinction.
The AFCP is an initiative by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. State Department. It supports cultural preservation projects across more than 100 countries worldwide. The fund assists in restoring ancient buildings, conserving rare manuscripts and museum collections, protecting archaeological sites, and documenting traditional crafts and languages.
By participating in cultural heritage preservation efforts globally, "the U.S. shows its respect for other cultures."
The last time a Kolkata organization received this grant was in 2007 when INTACH won it for restoring the Lalgola project in Murshidabad.