Centre for Advancement of Traditional Building Technology and Skills (CATTS) is a not-forprofit organization working in the area of heritage conservation and management since 2001. It was set up with the objective of preservation, protection and promotion of built heritage, monuments, places and objects of artistic or historic interest through people’s participation. CATTS has been working in the field of heritage conservation with a vision to highlight local assets, empower local communities and promote sustainability in heritage conservation.

CATTS has envisioned the Festival of Places as a people led movement for reviving and reimagining public spaces at the heart of healthy and vibrant communities. Through the Festival CATTS intends building a community of people that cares for places and holistic living. We hope to create a strong network of people who are deeply concerned about their cities and towns, about public spaces and neighbourhoods, about traffic and transportation, about pollution and migration, about poverty and slums, all challenges that are threatening the very idea of healthy urban living and peaceful coexistence.

The Festival of Places is in line with CATTS vision of inspiring people to play an active role in the preservation and sustenance of heritage. CATTS sees its role in the festival as that of a mediator, facilitator and collaborator specializing in research, documentation, awareness generation, valorisation, capacity building, skill development and technical assistance.