LAHORE: The Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts is going to be revamped in terms of its discipline, mechanism and introduction of new certification process for the interested candidates.

The Lahore Arts Council (LAC) has finally decided to upgrade the standard of the academy which has been in disarray for years. The second important thing, which is going to take place, is that there will be no hobby classes but three-month courses for all disciplines of performing and visual art.

In a meeting held at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Tuesday, a new framework of working has been finalised according to which there will be no more hobby classes but three-month stipulated courses will be introduced. Students will have to get themselves registered within 10 days [given before every course] and no one will be allowed to have admission after the end of the registration date.

For each course such as music, dance, instrumental music or singing admission date posts will be advertised at the social media and will also be on display at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, and the Cultural Complex, Gaddafi Stadium.

After every three months, students will be assessed by a relevant jury. First three positions in each course will be given special certificates of remarkable performances, rest of the students will be given participation certificates.

Eighty-nine per cent attendance of students in each course will be ensured. All the teachers will have to provide three-month course outline to the academy in-charge. The council has appointed Mina Haroon as in-charge of the academy replacing Niaz Hussain Lakhvera. Ms Haroon is also the assistant director (visual arts) at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall.

The new in-charge has been asked to prepare a list of music instruments available for instrumental and vocal classes while also mentioning the condition and count [of instruments]. The academy will provide entrance cards to all students to avoid breach by any outsider in the classes. All teachers will have to be present in their classes by 2:30pm. The class will span over two hours from 3pm to 5pm.

Mina Haroon told Dawn that all [these] measures were being taken by the council to raise the standard of education at the academy.

“We shall strive hard to hold a show of every performing art discipline being taught at the academy as a public performance”. General public and distinguished guests would be invited to the show through invites and social media posts, she added.

LAC Executive Director Ather Ali Khan said: “The council has long been working on revamping of academy’s structure. A meeting will be held on Wednesday (today) on the performance of the academy in which all teachers would be invited and briefed about the new line of action.”

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2020