On Tour in Tbilisi

Available for over a year

In July, The Arts Hour on Tour comes from Tbilisi, Georgia. Nikki Bedi is joined on stage by writers, artists and musicians to explore Tbilisi’s vibrant, young cultural scene where people are forging new artistic networks and opportunities. Georgia is a country with a rich heritage and ancient artistic traditions but it’s also super modern: Tbilisi has an exciting hip hop scene and a fast growing film industry. Nikki will be finding out about the role artists are playing in creating a new sense of national identity for Georgia, which gained independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. Nikki Bedi is joined on stage by local bands KayaKata and Moku Moku, along with writer Davit Gabunia, film maker Rusudan Chkonia and artist Mariam Natroshvili, and there’s comedy from Aleksandr Pereverzev. Recently there have been demonstrations in Tbilisi, after a Russian MP was allowed to address an event in Georgia’s parliament from the Speaker’s Chair and the conversation reflects that unrest, along with discussions about the Soviet legacy in Georgia and the way that young artists today are making things happen for themselves. Photo shows Kayakata (c) BBC