UNESCO South Asia Regional Office Celebrated India’s Performing Artists on World Art Day

On 15 April 2024, the UNESCO South Asia Regional Office celebrated World Art Day by hosting a series of panel discussions that brought together distinguished panelists from various disciplines of India's performing arts, including music, dance, theatre and puppetry. Hosted at the UNESCO House in New Delhi, the event aimed to deliberate on the current landscape for performing arts in India and raise awareness about the UNESCO 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist, an instrument that calls upon Member States to introduce policies and measures to enhance the employment, working and living conditions of artists.

"Artists are the driving force behind creativity, fostering a sense of belonging, promoting social cohesion, and contributing to the economy. In India, the performing arts sector is a vibrant ecosystem that requires support through adequate policy measures to ensure the sustainability of artistic practices and the well-being of artists," said Junhi Han, Chief of Culture, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office in her opening remarks.

The first panel of the day on the 'Status of Artists in India', featured Mr. Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director, National School of Drama, Ms. Pranaame Bhagawati, Director, Kathak Kendra, Mr. Dadi Pudumjee, Founder of the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, and Ms. Saskia Rao, Cellist and composer. The panelists shared their perspectives and experiences on the challenges faced by artists in India such as limited opportunities for training and development and lack of recognition and support.

UNESCO New Delhi

The panel discussion on the 'Need for Frameworks and Measures to Protect the Rights of Artists in India', emphasized the importance of protective measures to uphold the rights of artists in India. The panelists, including Ms. Shubha Mudgal, a renowned Hindustani classical singer, Mr. Dhruv Sangari, an eminent well-known Sufi singer, and Mr. Murad Ali Khan, a well-known Sarangi player, discussed legal aspects and copyright issues affecting performing artists in India. The panelists collectively highlighted the importance of fostering environments that safeguard the rights of artists.

Both panels were moderated by Ms. Shubha Chaudhuri, Associate Director General (Academic) Archives and Research Centre for Ethnomusicology, American Institute of Indian Studies.

UNESCO New Delhi