Mission Statements and ethos, of the IAC, draw from the following reality: • Culture is a set of beliefs and practices which animates, sustains and binds a people, thereby defining identity. The past is our bedrock and yet it must continuously evolve. • The human mind is a conscious set of cognitive faculties that processes, reasons and perceives in a holistic framework. The integrative process of thinking, wanting and feeling, leads to the creation of objects of beauty, which may or may not be of any formal use. This experiential awareness is the basis of all artistic creations. • Art provides multiplicity of views that enhances self-reflection, communication and visual literacy. This increased sense of empathy, in turn, develops a tolerance towards the 'other', the 'different' and the 'outsider'. • Culture impacts the individual and the decision making processes in a society. It has the potential to bridge our worlds, connect and inspire communities, provide skills for development and essentially, advocate change.