LAHORE: For the first time the Punjab government is developing a database of artists to tap talent from across the province and to rope artistes into different projects the arts councils initiate from time to time.

The basic objective of the move is to promote all forms of performing arts such theatre, music, dance and film.

The data is being gathered by the information and culture department through Punjab Council of the Arts as the PCA has 11 divisional arts councils under its supervision. The department will develop a digital digest. By now almost 1,000 artists have registered themselves from all over Punjab.

The digitisation process has been under way for the last six months and it is now near completion. The database will provide mapping of artists as how many folk, classical, contemporary or seasoned artists, directors and script writers especially from theatre are working professionally in different districts and how they can be roped into projects of different art institutes.

Punjab Council of Arts Executive Director Muhammad Abrar Alam told Dawn that initially the [database] idea was to regulate the commercial theatre artists and directors. But now it has been decided to broaden the database and ensure that talent from all over Punjab should be acknowledged and registered with the government. Alam said one of the reasons of artists ending up in poverty was the lack of a proper database relevant to the art and culture sector in Punjab.

Mr Alam said the database would help make a ‘systematic artists mapping mechanism’ that would be used in assistance of different art-related projects such as Artists Support Fund. It would help ensure transparency in disbursement of funds, grants, subsidies, quota facilities and other benefits. It would also help the government create employment opportunities for the artist community in their respective fields and vicinity. With the help of this database, ambassadors would be appointed in every district for a cohesive networking and coordination, he said.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2021