Latest news with #CCA
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
CCA gallery reopens in Lutyens' Delhi
Imaan Varma, grandson of the late Ashok Varma, revives CCA The Indian art world celebrates the return of a storied institution—CCA (Centre for Culture & Art)—revived by Imaan Varma, grandson of the late Shri Ashok Varma, founder of the original gallery. First established in the 1990s in Connaught Place, CCA was a pioneering force in India's modern art movement. It played host to iconic masters such as M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, Souza, J. Swaminathan, and Manjit Bawa, becoming a vibrant hub for progressive thought and creative expression for over three decades. Now, CCA reopens in Lutyens' Delhi, reimagined as an exclusive, by-invitation-only gallery and cultural centre. The new vision blends legacy with forward thinking by bringing art for collectors and also building a pathway for students, the 'future masters' of Indian art. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi 'I have been immersed in the world of art my entire life, first through my grandfather's gallery, then guided by my mother, a passionate art collector, and finally while studying art in Florence. We were among India's first and finest galleries, and I'm honoured to carry forward that legacy,' says Imaan Varma. CCA's revival show, titled Sacred Signs, opens with works by master tribal artists Jangarh Singh Shyam, Jodhaiya Bai Baiga, Baua Devi and Santosh Kumar Das—each handpicked by Imaan. 'Those who know, know,' he says of the selection. The exhibition marks the beginning of a series of bold, curator-led projects and events planned ahead. While we prepare for CCA's official revival, the gallery remains committed to nurturing young minds. CCA will always give special attention to students—helping them not only learn art but also understand the business and ecosystem that surrounds it. This exhibition is a unique collaboration with students of The Ardee School, who will gain hands-on experience in curating, presenting, and engaging with art. They will not only learn from masters but also witness firsthand how art lives beyond the canvas—through galleries, collectors, and conversations. CCA is immensely proud to announce the appointment of Ina Puri as its advisor. 'Her association with CCA dates back to its early years, and her deep understanding of the gallery's DNA makes her an invaluable part of our journey,' adds Imaan. 'The story that began in the early 90s fuelled by the determination of the entrepreneur Ashok Varma is now poised to begin a new chapter steered by his grandson Imaan, an ardent advocate of modern & contemporary Indian art. CCA moves into an expansive new space in Lutyens Delhi & is set to showcase artists from the expanding community of practitioners. I am delighted to be playing a role in their new plans as an advisor. CCA had contributed greatly to the art scene in the 90s. I am confident they will continue to make a difference in the present times'. – Ina Puri.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah to acquire 25 per cent equity in Petronas ZNLG facility
Hajiji, together with Petronas Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik, witnessing the exchange of documents between Petronas LNG Sdn Bhd (represented by Vice President, LNG Marketing & Trading – Petronas Gas & Maritime, Shamsairi Mohd Ibrahim) and SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd (Datuk Dr Dionysia Kibat) at the signing ceremony of the Heads of Agreement at the Malaysian Petroleum Club (MPC) in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): The Sabah Government, through SMJ Energy (SMJE) will be acquiring 25 per cent equity in the USD3.1 billion nearshore floating liquefied natural gas (ZLNG) facility in Sipitang following the signing of the Head of Agreement (HOA) with Petronas at the Malaysian Petroleum Club (MPC) here on Thursday. 'This partnership marks another significant milestone to ensure Sabah's long-term development goals, promoting industrial growth and energy security and creating new opportunities to drive Sabah's progress. 'Through strategic investments like ZLNG, we will strengthen the state's economic resilience while ensuring that the benefits of Sabah's natural resources directly contribute to the well-being of our people,' said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor after witnessing the HOA signing. The ZLNG facility with a capacity of two million tonnes per annum (MTPA) represents a significant addition to Malaysia's LNG landscape. Positioned nearshore in Sipitang, ZLNG is currently under construction and is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2027. This project complements Sabah's growing LNG footprint, in addition to two other floating LNG facilities, PFLNG1 (1.2 MTPA) and PFLNG2 (1.5 MTPA), currently operating in Sabah waters. The State Government also announced its intention to acquire a 40 per cent participating interest in PFLNG1 through SMJ Energy, with due diligence targeted to begin in the second half of 2025. SMJ Energy's growth trajectory since the signing of the Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) with Petronas in December 2021 has been rapid. The company now holds 50 per cent equity in the Samarang PSC oil production asset, 10 per cent equity in LNG9, 25 per cent equity in the SAMUR petrochemical complex and full ownership of Sabah International Petroleum (SIP), which operates both FPSO and FSO assets. SMJ Energy also holds free carry and back-in rights in exploration blocks SB409 (20%), SB403 (20%), SB306A (15%) and SB306B (15%) 'We are a prudent financial investor with a disciplined approach to portfolio building. Our entry into ZLNG is part of our strategic plan to further diversify and strengthen our position in the upstream, LNG, and petrochemical sectors. 'This opportunity aligns with our mandate to generate long-term, stable cash flows from high-quality, cash-generating assets,' said SMJ Energy Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Dionysia Kibat. Sabah's downstream ambitions are also advancing rapidly. Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC), the state's gas aggregator and distributor, plays a crucial role in ensuring a stable domestic gas supply for Sabah's industries. One of its landmark projects includes supplying gas to E-Steel's RM31 billion green steel plant at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), a key investment supporting Sabah's move toward industrial diversification. Also present at the signing ceremony were Sabah Finance Minister an SMJE chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untung and State Attorney General Datuk Brenndon Soh.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
TAR UMT students to gain industry-ready audit skills through new tie-up
STUDENTS at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) can look forward to a more hands-on learning experience in accounting, thanks to a new collaboration with Cheers Education, part of the AMC Group. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) recently to kick off a partnership aimed at narrowing the gap between academic theory and real-world audit practice. As part of the tie-up, a new course titled Software Applications for Accountants will launch this November under TAR UMT's Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) (RPA) programme. The course, which will be compulsory for students in the programme, will feature AMC Insight – a smart audit software powered by artificial intelligence, developed by AMC Group and made available through Cheers Education. Students who complete the course will gain not just technical skills but also partial exemption from the Cheers Certified Associates (CCA) programme, helping them fast-track their journey toward full certification. TAR UMT graduates will also get access to audit simulation training and job matching services, equipping them with tools and exposure that can give them a head start in their careers. AMC Group is a fintech-driven company based in Singapore, focused on advancing audit quality through automation, innovation and digital transformation. The MOU was signed by TAR UMT president Prof Datuk Dr Lee Sze Wei and Cheers Education director Eric Chia. Also present were TAR UMT's Faculty of Accountancy, Finance and Business (FAFB) acting dean Dr Chow Poh Ling, Professional Accountancy Department associate deans Iris Chin Hooi Khoon and Lai Thong Yan, programme leader Chan Tze Huey and AMC accredited trainer Irene Ho.
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
A Legacy Reimagined: Cca Returns To Delhi's Art Scene Across Three Generations
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 16: In a city steeped in art and memory, few names echo as deeply as CCA - Centre for Culture & Art. Once a cornerstone of Delhi's artistic heartbeat in the 1990s, the legendary gallery has been lovingly revived by Imaan Varma, the third generation of a family that has quietly shaped the Indian art landscape for over three decades. Originally founded by Ashok Varma, CCA was more than a gallery, it was a movement. Nestled in Lutyens' Delhi, the gallery played host to artists like, M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, J. Swaminathan, and Manjit Bawa, among others. A space for radicals and romantics alike, CCA became synonymous with progressive thought and boundary-pushing creativity in Indian modern art. Now, in 2025, the gallery has found new life in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi, reimagined as an invitation-only gallery and cultural centre with a sharper focus on the future. While paying homage to its luminous past, the new CCA also seeks to nurture emerging voices, what the team refers to as India's future masters. "I have been immersed in the world of art my entire life," shares Imaan Varma, grandson of Ashok Varma and the force behind this revival. "We were among India's first and finest galleries. It's an honour to continue my family's legacy, not just by celebrating the past, but by investing in the next generation." The first exhibition under Imaan's curatorship, titled "Sacred Signs", opens this August with works by celebrated tribal artists including Jangarh Singh Shyam, Jodhaiya Bai Baiga, Baua Devi, and Santosh Kumar Das. The show reflects a quiet reverence for symbolism, memory, and mythology, a theme deeply resonant with CCA's ethos. But CCA is not just about exhibitions. In collaboration with students from The Ardee School, the gallery is pioneering a fresh educational format where young learners engage directly with curatorial practices, exhibition design, and the broader workings of the art ecosystem. The idea? To empower them not just as artists, but as thinkers, producers, and future custodians of Indian art. Adding gravitas to this vision is the appointment of noted writer, curator, and cultural critic Ina Puri as the gallery's official advisor. A longtime friend of the Varma family and one of the original voices from CCA's earlier days, her presence marks a poetic full circle. "The story that began in the early 90s, fuelled by the vision of Ashok Varma, is now entering a new chapter with Imaan," says Puri. "CCA had a formidable presence in the past. With this thoughtful reimagining, I believe it will be just as relevant in the present, and the future." As CCA prepares for its official public revival later this year, its current quiet programming is already sparking interest across Delhi's art and culture circuit. From private previews to educational engagements, CCA is gently reclaiming its space, not just as a gallery, but as a cultural ecosystem. In a world saturated by speed and spectacle, the return of CCA reminds us of something timeless: that true art, like legacy which isn't hurried. It's built, slowly and lovingly, across generations. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
National Higher Education Nonprofit Launches Creative Commons Photo Library to Reflect the Realities of Today's Students
Indianapolis, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Complete College America (CCA)—a national nonprofit on a mission to raise postsecondary attainment in the United States—today announced the launch of the Complete College Photo Library, a free public collection of Creative Commons photography featuring authentic images of today's college students. The library showcases the wide range of student experiences and campus settings across the country—including community colleges, HBCUs, regional universities and workforce training programs—highlighting how many of today's students are balancing college with jobs, family, and other complex real-world responsibilities. 'College students are more likely to be working learners, parents, veterans, first-generation college-goers, and professionals seeking to upskill, rather than the full-time, residential, straight-from-high-school archetype depicted in the majority of media and publications on higher education,' said Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of Complete College America. 'The way we depict students—regardless of the medium—has to evolve beyond the outdated stereotypes of the past. This project is about shifting the visual narrative to match the realities.' For decades, the prevailing narrative about higher education in media and public discourse has focused narrowly on traditional, four-year residential colleges and the experiences of students in their late teens. At the same time, recent data from the Common App shows a sharp increase in students who are financially independent, many of whom are returning to college later in life. Nationally, more than one in four students (26%) is raising a child while pursuing their education, and roughly 40% of undergraduates are over 25. Research also shows that today's students attend a broad range of institutions – over 40% of students enrolled in postsecondary education attend community colleges , HBCUs enroll 10% of all Black students in the U.S., and Hispanic Serving Institutions enroll more than 65% of all Hispanic undergraduates. To help produce a more complete picture of the lived realities of today's students, Complete College America invited institutions from across the nationwide CCA Alliance to apply for participation in the inaugural cohort of a new storytelling and visual identity initiative. Through this process, the organization selected seven partner campuses and coordinated a series of multi-day, on-campus photo shoots to create a national library of high-quality, authentic imagery. 'Colleges and universities today are shaped by the unique experiences, backgrounds and identities of our diverse student bodies -- it's what strengthens and binds our community together,' said Eric M. Friedman, President at Bergen Community College. 'Serving as one of the flagship colleges in the Complete College America Photo Library not only speaks to the tapestry of cultures at Bergen Community College, but how those many identities enrich our institution and how we provide visibility for our community members to the entire society.' The result is the newly-unveiled photo library, which now includes nearly 1,000 curated, professional-quality images featuring a wide range of students in real college and workforce settings across the country. The images were captured by renowned photojournalist and photographer Allison Shelley, who traveled to each campus to capture authentic students and scenes. All images are free and accessible for use by all through a Creative Commons license, which ensures that journalists, institutions, policymakers, funders, and advocates will have access to these materials. The initial cohort of institutions selected to contribute to the Complete College Photo Library includes Bergen Community College, College of Northern New Mexico, College of Southern Nevada, Salish Kootenai College, Pasadena City College, Tougaloo College, and the University of Indianapolis. Complete College America invites media outlets, freelance journalists, education organizations, and researchers to explore and use the new Complete College Photo Library. The collection features authentic, high-quality images that reflect the diversity and experiences of today's college students. Visit to explore and share. ### About Complete College America: Complete College America (CCA) is a bold national advocate for dramatically increasing college completion rates and closing institutional performance gaps by working with states, systems, institutions, and partners to scale highly effective structural reforms and promote policies that improve student success. To learn more about CCA, visit Attachment Complete College Photo Library Media Relations Complete College America (317) 829-0483 [email protected]
