By Staff Reporter, *City marks World Theatre Day* - Daily Times - Karachi, Pakistan
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Faizan Peerzada says public money needs to be spent on artists as well
Lahore: Decades of neglect by every passing government has ruined the oldest institution of performing arts, theatre, various artists shared these views as the World Theatre Day was marked on Saturday.
“The government has not been able to formulate a cultural policy despite serious damages to such an important form of art as theatre,” they said.
Talking to Daily Times, Faizaan Peerzada said, “Theatre can be an agent of social and political change, as it plays an important role in educating the masses.” Unfortunately, scarce resources, bureaucratic red-tapism and neglect on the part of the government has been detrimental to the profession of theatre, he said.
Financial support: “Institutions do not work without money... merely constructing buildings is not enough... public money should be spent on artists to pump life into this very important art form,” Peerzada added. He said there were individual efforts going on to keep the culture of theatre alive in Pakistan but these groups need monetary support form public institutions or they would be useless.
Hub of culture: He deplored the ongoing practice of highlighting Indian and European cultures at the “cost of our own culture”. He said Pakistan was brimming with prolific cultural art forms such as traditional Sufi poetry, folklores of harvest, etc.
Madeeha Gohar of Ajoka Theatre said, “Preserving culture is not a government priority in Pakistan, despite a vibrant audience who turn up in large numbers to watch different plays. Rather repeated government have discouraged cultural activities instead of promoting them.”
He said the artists of Pakistan are travelling across the world to promote the “soft” image of Pakistan. Madeeha said bureaucrats, who have little understanding and lacked a proper cultural vision, were heading most of the art institutions.
The promotion of theatre needed greater commitment and financial support.
World Theatre Day was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Faizan Peerzada says public money needs to be spent on artists as well
Lahore: Decades of neglect by every passing government has ruined the oldest institution of performing arts, theatre, various artists shared these views as the World Theatre Day was marked on Saturday.
“The government has not been able to formulate a cultural policy despite serious damages to such an important form of art as theatre,” they said.
Talking to Daily Times, Faizaan Peerzada said, “Theatre can be an agent of social and political change, as it plays an important role in educating the masses.” Unfortunately, scarce resources, bureaucratic red-tapism and neglect on the part of the government has been detrimental to the profession of theatre, he said.
Financial support: “Institutions do not work without money... merely constructing buildings is not enough... public money should be spent on artists to pump life into this very important art form,” Peerzada added. He said there were individual efforts going on to keep the culture of theatre alive in Pakistan but these groups need monetary support form public institutions or they would be useless.
Hub of culture: He deplored the ongoing practice of highlighting Indian and European cultures at the “cost of our own culture”. He said Pakistan was brimming with prolific cultural art forms such as traditional Sufi poetry, folklores of harvest, etc.
Madeeha Gohar of Ajoka Theatre said, “Preserving culture is not a government priority in Pakistan, despite a vibrant audience who turn up in large numbers to watch different plays. Rather repeated government have discouraged cultural activities instead of promoting them.”
He said the artists of Pakistan are travelling across the world to promote the “soft” image of Pakistan. Madeeha said bureaucrats, who have little understanding and lacked a proper cultural vision, were heading most of the art institutions.
The promotion of theatre needed greater commitment and financial support.
World Theatre Day was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
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