Reliance Foundation And Dadu, The Children’s Museum Of Qatar.

Mumbai, Maharashtra, Reliance Foundation and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), in collaboration with Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, are excited to launch Museum in Residence: Light Atelierin Mumbai, running from July 19 to August 10, 2025. The interactive exhibition invites children aged 4 to 12 years old to discover the magic of light, shadow, and colour through playful, hands-on exploration.

On July 18, to mark the opening, 100 children from disadvantaged backgrounds were invited to enjoy a fun-filled experience at the Light Atelier exhibition, supported by Reliance Foundation’s Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative. Guided by Reliance’s ‘We Care’ philosophy, ESA aims to inspire and empower children to dream big and achieve their potential, enabling educational opportunities and sports for children from all backgrounds. At the Light Atelier, the children explored the wonders of light and shadows through playful activities that aim to stimulate hands on sensory discovery.

“At NMACC, we are deeply committed to education and expanding access to the arts—especially for young audiences,” said Ms Isha Ambani. “We’re excited to partner with Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar to bring their innovative Light Atelier programme to India for the very first time, as part of our beloved annual Bachpan children’s festival. We opened this experience with a day dedicated to children from under-resourced communities through the Reliance Foundation ESA programme. This collaboration reflects our shared dedication and commitment to nurturing learning by designing meaningful experiences that inspire young children’s creativity and imagination through play.”

Blending elements of art, science, and design, the exhibition celebrates creativity, exploration, and the natural wonder that illuminates every child’s imagination. Light Atelier is part of Dadu’s Museum in Residence initiative, which, focusing on learning-through-play as the pedagogical approach, transforms conventional spaces into immersive, playful learning environments for children. Held in an intentionally crafted space on the same floor as the Infinity Room by Yayoi Kusama, Light Atelier encourages children to imagine, experiment and create as they engage with light sources, reflections, colours, and shadows at seven different open-ended stations. Using simple materials and limitless possibilities, the exhibition inspires children to see the world through a fresh lens. The programme does not require much teacher/parent intervention, instead allowing for free play, risk taking, active learning and trial and error that is essential to childhood development.

This is the first time this initiative has been implemented in India, and the programme coincides with NMACC’s annual Bachpan festival. This festival celebrates the joys of childhood with activations across dance, music, theatre, storytelling, visual art, games, interactive workshops, live science, and more. This year’s edition is the most colourful and creative yet, from parent-child sessions to guided introductions to Kathak, Carnatic music, radio jockeying, and Gond and Lippan art. Light Atelier will enhance the already beloved Bachpan festival and is an extension of NMACC’s dedication to education and to bringing the best of arts and culture to India, as well as Reliance Foundation’s mission to create a strong foundation for lifelong learning and childhood development.

The exhibition aims to reach a broad audience through ticketed entries and school outreach programmes, hosting and providing packages for local schools to bring their children to experience the exhibition.

About the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre 

The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) is a first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary space in the sphere of arts, located in the heart of Mumbai, India.

NMACC is home to three performing arts spaces: the majestic 2,000-seater Grand Theatre, the technologically advanced 250-seater Studio Theatre, and the dynamic 125-seater Cube. It also features the Art House, a four-storey dedicated visual arts space that houses shifting exhibits and installations from the finest artists across India and the world. Spread across the Cultural Centre’s concourses is a captivating mix of public art by renowned Indian and global artists, including the famed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room – an immersive installation, and ‘Kamal Kunj’ – one of the largest Pichwai paintings in India.

Swadesh by Reliance Foundation is an immersive India-inspired exposition that shines a spotlight on the incredible talent of homegrown artisans and their diverse crafts.   

Since its opening in March 2023, the Cultural Centre has staged more than 1,500 shows featuring over 7,000 artists across venues, welcoming more than two million guests. For two years now, NMACC has introduced marquee Indian productions such as ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation’, ‘Mughal-E-Azam’, ‘Rajadhiraaj: Love. Life. Leela’ and iconic international musicals such as ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘MAMMA MIA!’ ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, and many others.

NMACC has been featured in the international publication Madame Figaro as one of the seven leading cultural centres of the world.

Connect with us:  Instagram | X | Facebook | YouTube

For additional information, please contact: jwc.pr@ril.com

About Reliance Foundation

Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited, aims to play a catalytic role in addressing India’s development challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Led by Smt. Nita M Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation is relentlessly working for the overall well-being and enhanced quality of life for all, focusing on rural transformation, education, health, sports for development, disaster management, women empowerment, urban renewal and arts, culture and heritage, and has touched the lives of over 86 million people across India, in over 91,500 villages and urban locations.

About Qatar Museums

Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors. 

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, and amplify the voices of Qatar’s people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, and Design Doha. Future projects include Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, Art Mill Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and the Lusail Museum.

About Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar 

Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, will provide a unique place for learning and growth through inclusive, open-ended play, exploration, and experimentation. Through an oasis of stimulating, interactive, and accessible indoor and outdoor experiences for families in the heart of Doha, Dadu will nurture children’s development, inspire their curiosity, encourage collaboration and dialogue, provide the tools to fuel creativity and instil a sense of social responsibility. Under development by Qatar Museums, the new institution is designed to challenge and inspire children and advance the Qatar National Vision 2030 for human, social, economic and environmental development. Although doors are not yet open, the Museum is already engaging the community in Qatar through programmes from family events with allied organisations to museum-in-residence in schools around Doha. Essa Al Mannai has served as the Museum’s director since 2019.  

About The Author