NATIONAL ART POLICY - INDIA

I am drafting this NATIONAL POLICY ON ART, primarily for the promotion and encouragement to Indian art & artistsby the Government of India (Ministry of Culture). It’s just a compilation ofvarious suggestions to the Ministry of Culture, India.

Under ‘ART’ you have painting, sculpture,printmaking, new media, performing art and photography.

Under ‘ARTISTS’ any Indian individualwho has completed B.F.A., M.F.A, B.V.A., B.A. or minimum a diploma in art fromany recognized institution in India.

The Points for the NATIONAL POLICY ONART :

1. There should be new art galleries onthe line of Lalit Kala Akademi, in Delhi. All major cities should be covered underthis plan. With a minimum floor area of 10,000 sq ft.

2. Government should allocate publicspaces for art installation, or exhibition space inside Metro Stations,Airports, Colleges, Hospitals, Schools and Dilli Haats. They can even provideparks like Lodhi Garden or Central Park in Connaught Place for permanent openair art display areas. They can allocate walk-ways in Khan Market or any othersuitable place for weekend art exhibitions. Collect 10% of the sales from theartists.

3. Raw materials for artists should beeasily available through public distribution system like KENDRIYA BHANDARS andKHADI. Even museums, Lalit Kala Akademi can also be roped in for this. Variouspapers, colours, brushes and other materials should be provided to the artistsat reasonable rate at KENDRIYA BHANDARS and KHADI throughout India. Materialscan be divided in two sections students and professional.

4. Tax exemptions should be given oninvestment or promoting art or any art related activities. Tax rebate to anyindividual or corporate on a purchase of Rs.10,000/- (minimum). Art promotionand investment should be brought under CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).Buying art should be encouraged by all departments of various ministries fortheir offices. Every corporate should take the responsibility of promoting at least5 art students yearly. Corporate should support various art projects; likemurals, public art projects, installations, paintings and performing art withintheir premises at least once a year.

5. Art Biennales should be organized byGovt. or on PPP mode, throughout India. Apart from KOCHI MUZRIS which is now apopular international biennale, Govt. should come up with few more biennales inmajor metros. Theme based biennales can also be introduced.

6. Courses on curatorial practices andart management should be introduced in all art colleges.

7. Lalit Kala Akademi should be made thenodal agency for verification and authentication of art in India. LKA shouldsell research notes on art by Indian and international artists and scholars onart. DVDs and CDs on various Indian and international artists should beavailable in all art museums and LKA.

8. Revive FESTIVAL of INDIA and YUVAMAHOTSAV. Involve SAARC countries for celebrating YUVA MAHOTSAV. It should bean annual affair. There should be exchange of artists within the SAARCcountries. FESTIVAL of INDIA should be organized throughout the world or atleastin major centres globally.

9. There should be SAZ (Special ArtZone) on the line of SEZ ( Special Economic Zone). Government should chalk out areas within a city or in its outskirts for this matter. Mandi House, Hauz Khas village, Khan Market or Connaught Place can be declared 'SAZ's. Art galleries, art fairs, musical performances, open air art shows, installations and open air film shows should be part of this 'SAZ'.

10. In art colleges there should be a course on 'Classical Indian Art'. Where one can learn Indian miniature painting of all styles. The students will learn theory and the practical nuances of this great treasure of Indian Art.

11. Art tour packages should be introduced by Ministry of Tourism, for Indian & foreign visitors. Art tours will promote tourism and art at the same time. All hotels in India should work on this idea to attract more tourists and to promote art.

12. Film festival on art should be a regular happening in all the metros in India. Video art, art documentaries, short art films on artists should be made part of it. All regional Lalit Kala Kendras and NGMA could be the venue for this. Even art colleges in India can be transformed into art film festival venues.

13. A National Artists Database (NAD) should be developed online by Ministry of Culture for all Indian artists. All graduates from certified art colleges can register themselves in this National Artists Database for a nominal fee. This database will be much bigger and more will include most of the Indian artists, than the present Lalit Kala Akademi artists directory. Which unfortunately contains only those artists who have participated with National Art Exhibition. 

14. Art day or art week should be celebrated in all museums and NGMA. 

Author - Soumen Bhownick, September, 2014