Opened in 1969 by Indira Gandhi, the National Centre of the Performing Arts (NCPA) became the true heart of the cultural life of both Mumbai and all of India. The Centre's main mission is to preserve and promote the incredibly rich and ancient culture of India, develop new directions in visual and theatrical art, and promote innovative cultural venues and events.
Under the roof of the National Centre operate 5 theatres - Jamshed Bhabha with over 1000 seats for grand concerts and performances, the Tata Theatre, designed with the musical and visual specifics of Indian productions with their abundance of dance and song in mind, and an experimental theatre with 300 seats, which is suitable for conceptual performances and shows. Another 2 small theatre halls are reserved for musicals and dance productions, film screenings, seminars, and presentations.
Across 32 thousand square meters, the NCPA houses numerous art and photo galleries, recording studios and libraries, the Theatre Development Centre, and even laboratories engaged in research in the field of music and the arts. Every year, the Arts Centre hosts more than 500 events dedicated to all the disciplines in which people can express their talents.
Since 2006, the NCPA has been home to the Symphony Orchestra of India, created under the direction of the Kazakh violin virtuoso and conductor Marat Bisengaliev.
