Govt urged to promote art on a larger scale

Hyderabad: India needs to promote art and its cultural richness to more robust levels if they have to enhance its reputation across the world. 

A way forward would be to for the governments to take initiatives and support all activities that are endeavoured to elevate and upkeep Indian artistic styles in all their richness, said Bose Krishnamachari, President, Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF), 

participating in a panel discussion on ‘Cultural Financing’ held at T-Hub, IIIT-H Campus in Gachibowli, under the joint aegis of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), as part of the ongoing Krishnakriti Festival, here on Friday.

The event is being organised by Kalakriti Art Gallery and Lahoti Foundation in collaboration with Bonjour India Festival.

Stating that KBF has the distinction of conducting South Asia’s biggest event in the genre, Kochi Biennale Festival, Mr Krishnamachari pointed out that they enjoyed the advantage of government support that came in handy for all the individuals, artistes and corporate houses, who jointly organise the festival.

He explained that while London attracted 35 millions art lovers, who come from across the globe, for the myriad art festivals they conduct annually, China has the distinction of establishing a whopping 350 museums in one year.  This was made possible because of an active CSR funding, both tangible and intangible.

India would do well if the corporate houses accord importance to the promotion of art. There is no dearth of creative talent in the country, though the fact is that not many private businesses and even less number of governments come to their aid. The authorities must understand that even they make for good ambassadors when they showcase their creative finesse overseas. 
  
This was an opinion that was shared by fellow-panellists Mallika Ahluwalia, CEO, Partition Museum and Aman Nayar from The Times Group.

They urged corporate houses and major industries to come forward and embrace art so that Indian artistes could stay focussed on their creative work and not worry either about their marketing or the economics of exhibiting their works of art.

A more vibrant support for all artistic talent is the need of the hour. India should take cue from other nations and emulate them was the unanimous opinion that emerged during the one-hour long discussion that was aptly themed-‘Cultural financing’.