Slideshow
Our
Story
1976 – 1995
The Beginning
The journey began in 1976, when Meera Dass completed her studies in Architecture. She practiced architecture in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bhopal before her interests gradually shifted towards heritage conservation and cultural history.
From 1993 to 2010, she served as the Convenor of the Bhopal Regional Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. During this period, she led the documentation and mapping of heritage buildings, palaces, public spaces, stepwells, water bodies, and historic precincts across Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Chanderi, and several other towns in Madhya Pradesh.
Her work brought attention to numerous historically significant sites that had remained undocumented or overlooked, laying the groundwork for decades of research, conservation, and public engagement.
In-Frame - Mapping: Taj Mahal Palace, Bhopal
PC: Meera Dass
1996 – 2005
Research, Discovery & Indian Art
In 1997, Meera Dass received the prestigious Charles Wallace Fellowship to Leicester, United Kingdom, specializing in the conservation of built heritage.
Her research on the 5th-century Brahmanical caves at Udayagiri culminated in a PhD in 2001 from De Montfort University through PRASADA (Practice Research and Advancement in South Asian Design and Architecture).
Building on this research, she and Sarthak Kayastha established Brahmi at Sanchi in 2003, with support from the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. Brahmi promoted Indian craft traditions while introducing visitors to the richness of Gond art, beginning a collection that has since expanded to include works by contemporary artists from across India.
In-Frame - Udayagiri: Mukhlinga Siva.
PC: Pradeep Krishan.
2006 – 2015
Heritage at a National Scale
Between 2011 and 2014, Meera Dass served as a Member of the National Monuments Authority, contributing to policy decisions concerning India's nationally protected monuments.
Working at the national level deepened her understanding of conservation, archaeology, architecture, and heritage management, reinforcing the importance of preserving India's cultural legacy while making it meaningful for future generations.
In-Frame - JNNURM: Mahakal temple, Ujjain.
PC: MP Tourism.
2016 – 2023
Building the Foundation
The decade preceding ARECA brought together years of cultural work that shaped its vision.
In 2016, Meera Dass undertook the documentation, classification, and evaluation of Air India's historic art collection—the largest corporate art collection in India. This work resulted in two landmark exhibitions: Maharaja of the Skies (2019) at Nehru Centre, Mumbai, and Dharohar (2021) at the Air India Building, Nariman Point.
In 2018, she established the Society for Culture and Environment, under which the Bhopal Literature & Art Festival was launched in 2019. The festival has since become a vibrant platform for authors, artists, scholars, and audiences to engage in conversations around literature, history, culture, and ideas.
In 2021, she was awarded the Max Weber Fellowship, Erfurt, Germany, recognizing her contributions to heritage and cultural research.
The experience of curating exhibitions, publishing catalogues, organizing public programmes, and creating spaces for dialogue laid the foundation for the creation of ARECA.
In-Frame - Air India: Exhibition Dharohar 2021.
PC: Huzoor Choudhry.
2024 – Present
ARECA Home of the Arts
On 30 January 2026, ARECA – Home of the Arts opened its doors in a beautifully restored 6,000 sq. ft. heritage residence, originally built by
Dr. Ishwar Dass in 1964 at Arera Colony, Bhopal. What began with an intimate gathering of around fifty guests marked the continuation of nearly five decades of research, conservation, curation, and cultural engagement.
Founded by Meera Dass and Sarthak Kayastha, ARECA was envisioned as a boutique cultural centre where art, heritage, literature, music, dialogue, and design come together. Today, it hosts exhibitions, cultural conversations, workshops, artist residencies, heritage experiences, and a thoughtfully curated collection of contemporary, tribal, and traditional Indian art.
Continuing her commitment to sharing knowledge, Meera Dass launched The Meera Dass Show and Vartalaap in 2024, two podcast series that explore history, art, architecture, astronomy, and culture through conversations with scholars and subject experts.
Over the course of her academic career, she has also authored 18 research papers on Indian art, architecture, urban planning, sacred spaces, and cultural heritage.
In-Frame - ARECA Home Of The Arts.
PC: Huzoor Choudhry.
A Continuing Journey
What began as an architectural education evolved into a lifelong commitment to understanding India's artistic and cultural heritage.
Through research, conservation, public policy, curation, publishing, festivals, exhibitions, and cultural dialogue, Meera Dass and Sarthak Kayastha have built a journey spanning nearly five decades.
Today, ARECA – Home of the Arts stands as the natural culmination of that journey—a living cultural space where India's rich artistic traditions continue to be researched, celebrated, and shared with future generations.
FOUNDERS
Meera Ishwar Dass
With a distinguished career spanning decades in the study and curation of Indian art, architecture and heritage, Dr. Meera Dass brings a rare depth of scholarship and vision to Areca – Home of the Arts. Her work bridges historic and contemporary practices, shaped by extensive research, documentation and critical engagement with both traditional and modern artistic expressions.
Her association with the renowned Air India Art Collection—one of the country’s most significant corporate collections, now under the care of National Gallery of Modern Art (New Delhi)—reflects her commitment to preserving and interpreting artistic legacy at a national level. Her contributions to policy interventions for nationally protected monuments, during her tenure with the National Monuments Authority, provided a pan-Indian perspective on heritage conservation.
Through curated exhibitions, writing and public presentations, she has fostered meaningful dialogue between art, institutions and audiences. At the heart of her practice lies the belief that art is not an isolated pursuit, but an essential part of human experience—capable of enriching environments, enhancing wellbeing and shaping cultural identity.
With Areca, Dr. Dass extends this philosophy into a physical space that brings together art, lifestyle and community in a thoughtful and immersive manner. Her approach to art consultancy is equally nuanced, combining academic insight with a deep understanding of evolving aesthetics and market dynamics. Whether guiding collectors, curating spaces, or fostering emerging talent, her work is defined by clarity, integrity and a long-term cultural vision.
Sarthak Kayastha
Sarthak Kayastha is a musician, producer and creative entrepreneur whose work brings together sound, storytelling and visual media. A drummer by choice, he performs as part of a three-member band while also leading AirGroove Recording Studio, where he produces music and video content across the entire creative spectrum—from writing and composition to recording, mixing, mastering, filming, editing and release.
The studio also serves as the production base for The Meera Dass Show and Vartalaap, a video podcast exploring themes of ancient Indian knowledge systems, architecture and history. His experience extends into the art world through his association with Akar Prakar Art Advisory, a reputed gallery based in Delhi and Kolkata.
He was also part of the team for the Air India exhibitions titled ‘Maharaja of the Skies’ and ‘Dharohar’ held in Mumbai. Dharohar was centred around the Air India Art collection.
Sarthak also owns a cottage at Ratapani Riverside Resorts, located on the periphery of the Ratapani Tiger Reserve. This space is envisioned as an extension of Areca—hosting outreach programs that bring together art, nature and immersive cultural experiences
CORE TEAM
Sulakshna Choudhry
is an accomplished administrator, event coordinator and social media manager with over two decades of professional experience spanning administration, project management and cultural initiatives. She also serves as Festival Coordinator for the Bhopal Literature & Art Festival, where she plays a pivotal role in planning and execution, managing sponsorships and event operations. Her diverse career includes administrative and management roles at Huzoor Designs, INTACH Bhopal, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance, and Appco India, where she gained extensive expertise in project coordination, heritage conservation, human resources, business operations, and client relationship management. A Post Graduate in Business Administration (Finance) from Symbiosis University, Sulakshna combines strategic thinking with creativity, organizational excellence, and a strong commitment to community engagement.
Huzoor Choudhry
is a graphic designer, visual artist, and heritage interpretation specialist with over two decades of experience in cultural heritage, museum design, exhibition planning, and urban design. He has worked with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), INTACH, MPSTDC and other government agencies on heritage signage, interpretation centres, conservation documentation and tourism projects. His portfolio includes the design of the Holkar Stadium Cricket Museum in Indore, urban design projects for Link Road No. 1, Boat Club Road, Kamla Park Road in Bhopal, GK Road in Indore, Pachmarhi, and Smart City initiatives. He has also designed and executed Air India exhibitions at the Nehru Centre and Air India Building in Mumbai. Trained in exhibition design and curatorial practice at the British Museum, London, he combines historical research with innovative design to create engaging cultural and public spaces.
Aadish Choudhry
is currently pursuing a degree in Business Analytics at Jindal Global Business School, where he is developing a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making, business strategy, and digital innovation. Passionate about digital media and visual storytelling, Aadish has developed expertise in social media content creation, combining creativity with analytical thinking to craft engaging online experiences. At Areca – Home of the Arts, he plays an active role in developing and managing social media content, helping showcase the gallery's exhibitions, artists, cultural initiatives, and events to a wider audience. His keen understanding of digital trends, audience engagement, and contemporary communication enables him to create compelling content that strengthens Areca's online presence while promoting art and culture to diverse communities.