Islamabad, the 30th June, 2014:  11th meeting of the Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage (IB&NH) was held today at 2:00 p.m. in Committee Room No. 02, Parliament House, Islamabad. The meeting was presided over by Ms. Marvi Memon, MNA / Chairperson of the Standing Committee. 

 

 

The schema of the meeting was to discuss the working of Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) and policy of Government on promoting Arts and Heritage. The Director General, (PNCA) briefed the Committee about the working of PNCA. The Committee showed displeasure on the presentation given by the DG. The Committee discussed in detailed the issues of PNCA and promoting Art in the country. The Committee concluded and gave the following recommendations for the improvement in the working of PNCA; and for promoting Arts & Heritage in country. 

 

1. PNCA’s mission of integrating and unifying all of Pakistan needs to be adhered to in all its plans. In 2014’s Pakistan it can play a vital role in unifying all cultures.

2. In order to make the workings of the PNCA more efficient and more effective, a structural change in the working apparatus of the PNCA is required. There is a need to create a stronger private / public linkage that will help address grievances of the artist community.

3. The job of the Director General, PNCA is a specialist job & hence the Director General of PNCA needs to be selected on a competitive basis with a short listing of names, from a pool of artists that have considerable contribution and background in Arts & Culture. By getting the right person in place, who has had experience in creating  international linkages / arts education / social, educational outreach / will give PNCA the benefit of this wide range of expertise and the hands on knowledge of getting things done. 

4. The governing body of the PNCA needs to have significant representation from people comprised of mid-late career arts professionals from the arts and culture sector, and their term needs to rotate every 3 years.  Their task is to:

a. Develop ideas through a consensus of the Governing body of PNCA comprising of mid-late career art professionals from the arts and culture sector. 

b. Implementation / budgeting annual funds

c. Follow up / feedback / reports

5. The current BOG & its executive committee should be made functional at once as per the legal provisions to advice on issues on regular basis. 

6. There should also be a larger oversight body/committee that oversees the working of PNCA, so that initiatives and problems are voiced, scrutinized and solutions found.

7. PNCA’s policy should clearly outline its outreach for artists with disabilities and cater to their needs.

8. The contract should be immediately concluded with the Civil Works & HBC, so that proper maintenance of National Art Gallery is carried out.

9. PNCA ought to provide before the committee its Performance in all of its divisions in last one year, to compare actual performance from plans in paper work along with their defined timelines.

10. A policy needs to be defined by PNCA for Talent Acquisition and Social Media can also be used to achieve this objective.

11. Efforts need to be made by PNCA to engage artists and strengthen its linkages with the artist community across Pakistan for a centralized assimilation including all divisions.

12. “Art Acquisition Committee” needs to meet yearly and should be made functional immediately.

13. PNCA should design an agenda on priority basis so as to create Employment Opportunities and Job Creation for the Artists certified from PNCA.

14. PNCA should complete the Structure of its Council and its 27 members with immediate effect & on merit.

15. PNCA should integrate divisions in its three regional groups to promote National Integrity.

16. PNCA should conduct art & cultural activities in local schools and far flung areas, free of cost and give the committee a yearly plan to explain in which areas specifically for puppets.

17. PNCA should immediately revive “National Art Exhibition” and “National Music Festival” which are mandatory to be conducted every year. 

18. There should be an international curator hired for national art gallery, so it can perform its role more effectively.

19. PNCA to assist artist community in achieving international awards and to give us an action plan as to how they will assist. 

20. Publications by National Art Gallery should be commissioned by a committee which selects renowned art historian or critic, respected scholars on art whose writings will contribute to the importance of the national collections and disseminate them internationally.

21. New works must be acquired for its collection, especially contemporary art through the recommendation of a well respected committee and this process must be fair, transparent and following merit.

22. Visa support and institutional (PNCA) support could prove quite valuable for Pakistani Artists working internationally. Governmental Support could make the process faster and increase the credibility of the artist and his work.

23. The Pakistani embassies around the world should show extra interest in promoting art activities internationally and promote the artists, share opportunities and attend events which showcase Pakistan.

24. Government (federal and provincial) should provide special permission to artists to temporarily use the abandoned spaces/ buildings in the country as pop spaces or maybe form temporary museums/ studios/ exhibition space in such areas.

25. Small art galleries should be established in smaller cities so the art activity is not concentrated in Islamabad but reaches to a wider public across the country. Coordination with provincial governments.

26. PNCA should allow and invite different artists and curators on a rotation to organize month/ two month long exhibitions, activities, workshops in the National Art Gallery. This could include dance, theatre and music as well.

27. PNCA should facilitate inviting international artists, exhibitions and researchers to Pakistan and vice versa. Giving importance and support to art and culture will promote a positive and progressive image of Pakistan towards a brighter future.

28. The ministry should define a transparent manner of inviting and recruiting local budding talent from all divisions of Pakistan. 

29. Government should plan international exhibitions of Pakistani art and participation of Pakistan in important international art events, such as Venice Biennale and others, so the country's image as a civilized, cultural and peace loving nation spreads/improves globally. List of all such international events need to be part of the calendar for targets of PNCA.

30. Govt. must promote a protectionist policy and form some barrier to entry against foreign imports of entertainment products, so local art is nurtured.

31. Govt./PEMRA needs to ensure broadcasters follow the 10 % Rule of airing non-Pakistani Products/Content on TV/Radio networks to provide local artists equitable playing field.

32. There is dire need for Govt. to ensure strict adherence by broadcasters to copyrights laws and royalty collection for both local and foreign content aired. 

33. Above mentioned Royalty should be poured into a centralized agency which should be supervised by Intellectual Property Organization (IPO).

34. The revenue from Public Broadcast should reach the entire team connected with the piece of art aired.