Syed Jamal Shah is an artist, writer, filmmaker, educationist and social worker. He has the distinction of being the first graduate in Sculpture from the National College of Arts and in the same period he worked for Pakistan Television (PTV), mainly in music programmes and dramas. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Jamal Shah starred in Alistair Reed’s award-winning Traffik, a British television series about the international heroin trade and appeared in Frank Roddam’s film K-2. His recent directorial debut, Revenge of the Worthless, was on the challenging subject of the Swat insurgency. He was appointed director general of the Pakistan National Council of Arts last year.

Dawn caught up with Mr Shah in Islamabad and discussed his experience at the PNCA and what he has planned for the future.

Q: What brought you to this position at PNCA?

A: The government should be asked this question but as far as I understand, they think I am someone who is at ease looking after all segments and departments because I am a perfect drifter. I am trained as a visual artist but I ventured into filmmaking, music, writing and direction which means theatre, music, cinema and visual arts, which are all the areas that the PNCA is supposed to look after.

Because this institution is the apex art body, it is far too important to neglect and I thought I could contribute to it. These areas are important to me because I believe art and culture are significant parts of the history and life of a country or nation.

Q: What are your plans for the PNCA?

A: The plans are very ambitions because the PNCA mandate is very extensive; that of preserving, developing and promoting the art and culture of Pakistan, which is very diverse. The story of our region starts about 9,500 years ago and carries the imprints of all the people who have contributed to the cultural narrative of the land. We have to document, preserve, develop and promote this and make it more accessible.

I can broaden PNCA’s resource base by developing revenue earning assets and making them more efficient and engage the corporate sector in a befitting manner. We have to concentrate on visual arts by re-launching the national exhibition every year and also plan biennale festivals of dance, music, theatre and build the centre for performing arts and a national film academy and launch an Islamabad international film festival.

We will call a national artists convention in a few weeks to discuss issues and draft proposals for a way forward.

Q: Of your many achievements, what do you feel is your greatest and why?

A: I think my only contribution is the Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts, which is the first and only not-for-profit art school. It is in deficit but it is still there and we are trying to do our bit. The school gives me a sense of fulfilment and even gratification.

Q: Have you seen a change in how people view art and culture in Pakistan?

A: Certainly. I come from a family which can be called conservative though educated. They gave me this understanding that I was an artist, but when I wanted to join the NCA after my matric, they tried convincing me to study medicine because it will be good for humanity and that I can continue with art on the side.

Parents today are not as insecure about their children’s choice if they want to pursue art. There is a lot more happening, the activity, the pace of activity and the quality has changed and we are improving in the realm of art and culture, despite the daunting challenges.

Artists are very resilient, art is resilient and it has to become an efficient agent of change in Pakistan. Eventually, I hope, it informs decision making which is its ultimate goal.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2017