Why art receives step-motherly treatment in India?

On the occasion of World Theatre Day, let's understand what keeps the arts scene ticking in India and how the same can be improved.

Photograph: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

India plays host to a variety of arts festivals around the year. Bharat Rang Mahotsav, India Art Fair, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Delhi International Arts Festival, Goa Carnival and Rajasthan International Folk Festival, just to name a few.

These festivals, which are organised with the intention to promote the arts sector in India, bring together artists, art connoisseurs, buyers and sellers.

But the question is: Are these festivals enough to help the arts sector thrive in India? Today on the occasion of World Theatre Day, let's understand what keeps the arts scene ticking in India and how the same can be improved.

Sanjna Kapoor, the co-founder of Junoon, hints at the NCERT arts curriculum which on one hand is well-articulated, but lacks good teachers who could inculcate interest in arts amongst the students.

"We need to create opportunities for accessibility of arts through a variety of innovative means. It is important to forge a strong alliance between civil society initiatives, government structures, policies and schemes," she says.

Sunil Shanbag, the director of Theatre Arpana, feels that the government has to initiate a progressive cultural policy, which is non-discriminatory and is not driven by political agendas.

"There is a huge need to create and support cultural spaces, small and big, and to frame a wider definition of what constitutes art," he says further.

Meanwhile, Sanjna Kapoor cites that programmes like Kochi Biennale, Mahindra & Mahindra's META Awards, Aditya Birla's recently launched Aadyam, as well as reputed theatre festivals such as Prithvi Theatre Festival and Bharangam have helped bring arts closer to the urban populace.

She, however, adds that India needs round the year engagement with the arts that build habits and allow the people to access arts in a hassle-free manner.

In addition to this, it is also important to promote arts among the non-art lovers. On this, Kapoor says, "The answer lies in democratising arts. Whether it is like the Moscow Metro where each railways station is a museum of excellence and becomes a symbol of pride for all Moscovites. Or the long list of arts engagements through summer in Central Park, New York."

Hence, it is important to create an atmosphere that offers infrastructure and opportunities for regular arts' engagements in urban and semi-urban areas for the growth of any art or artists.

"When we recognise that art is fundamental to a vibrant society and act upon it, the transformations will be astounding," says Sameera Iyengar, the co-founder and director of Junoon Theatre.

Big talks, big launches and big exhibits are all good. But all that boils down to the success of artists and their community as a whole. It is important that an art is seen as a thriving career option.