In March 2002, a National Festival on Folk Arts to coincide with the 50^th Anniversary of the Ford Foundation of India and the 150^th year of the Madras (Chennai) Government Museum was held in collaboration with the National Folklore Support Centre, Chennai. The carved stone columns, which were received for safe custody under a court case, were lying strewn in front of the old Connemara Public Library. They were erected to form into a beautiful Open Air Theatre at which many of folk art events were held. Rare musical instruments from our collection and from private collections were put on display. The Vice-President of the Ford Foundation Mr. Gaberman visited during the occasion. This event also attracted a lot of foreign tourists. A Folk Art Festival along with Special Exhibitions on photography, musical instruments and folk performing arts was held from 4th March 2002 to 13th March 2002. The curating of the exhibitions on the first two was done by outsiders for the first time. They were Mr. C.Subramaniam and Mrs. Lakshmi Krishnamurthi.

Mr.Gaberman at the festival with Dr.Kannan (in red shirt) being recived and taken around. Thiru Lakshminarayanan, (Honorary Curators) Thiru C.Subramanian and Mrs. Lakshmi Krishanmurthi are seen in the above photo from right.