Entrepreneur Shabana Faizal Extends Support to Kochi-Muziris Biennale

KOCHI:
The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) has announced that entrepreneur-philanthropist Shabana Faizal, a Platinum Benefactor of the Foundation, has generously furthered her support to the Biennale as a Platinum Patron.

“The Kochi Biennale Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to Shabana Faizal for her generous support,” stated Thomas Varghese, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. “Her contribution meaningfully advances our mission to nurture artistic exchange, strengthen educational initiatives, and further our work in the field of preservation of cultural heritage,” he added.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the flagship event of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, has won national and international acclaim as India’s biggest and most significant mega-art event, uniquely accessible to art lovers and the public alike.

UAE-based Shabana is the Vice-Chairperson, KEF Holdings which has its offices in Dubai, India, and Singapore and also the Co-founder of the Faizal & Shabana Foundation (FSF).

Shabana is also a member of the Kochi Biennale Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Her entrepreneurial ventures span business, philanthropy, art, and culture. She was recently appointed as a Global Advisory Committee Member for the Indiaspora Forum 2026, a collective of leaders shaping conversations on innovation, inclusion, and impact across the Indian diaspora.

“We are committed to creating an ecosystem where artists feel supported, and audiences feel connected. KMB must balance staying true to its roots while pushing boundaries of contemporary art. What excites me equally is the Student Biennale, an initiative unlike anywhere else in the world, which nurtures the next generation of artists and opens new educational possibilities.”

KBF, a 2010-registered non-profit charitable trust, is organising the sixth edition of KMB, curated by Nikhil Chopra with HH Art Spaces, Goa. The 110-day festival will commence on December 12 and run through March 31.