KARACHI, Sept 30: Speakers at an Arts Council seminar on Monday put forward a number of suggestions that could restore the Arts Council’s past glory.

The seminar, which began nearly two hours late, saw Arts Council members, as well as people belonging to other fields, reminiscence how the Arts Council used to be a hub of cultural activity till the early 1970s.

Noted theatre performer Sania Saeed said the dearth of auditoriums in the city was a major issue. “The auditorium at the Arts Council suffers from audio and logistics problems. There is another auditorium at the Finance and Trade Centre, but because it comes under the cantonment administration, it is nearly impossible to obtain a no-objection certificate for it. The auditorium at the PACC is out of bounds these days because there is the residence of a consul general nearby.” She added that artists were not a unified force because they were all preoccupied with their petty problems.

Actor Tanveer Jamal said that one of the greatest problems at the Arts Council was that a number of members had nothing to do with art at all. He stressed the need for starting those activities which could generate funds.

Aijaz Aslam said the Arts Council could be instrumental in resolving a large number of issue of artists.

Behroze Sabzwari underlined the need for laying down a clear-cut criterion of membership for the Arts Council. “I have been in this field for the past 35 years but I am still not a member of the Arts Council.”

Classical dancer Arjumand Rahim said that a lot of people conceded that dance was a major form of art, “but they ask me why I want to continue to be a dancer.” She said: “Why are we waiting for a gora to come here and teach us what an important art form dance is.”

Arts Council secretary Saifur Rehman Grami recalled that there used a be a restaurant at the Arts Council called Gulrang where a common man could rub shoulders with the leading intellectuals of Pakistan. He added that the Arts Council’s elected administration was trying to revive Gulrang.

Veteran director Zaheer Khan said every organization — be it Radio, Television, the press and the Arts Council — had a role. He said: “It is not the role of the Arts Council to solve the problems of the artists. For this purpose, artists should set up another society. The Arts Council may extend help to that society.”

He added that in 1955 — the year the Arts Council wasset up — Gulrang was part of the constitution. He wondered why it was subsequently dropped from the constitution.

He also said that according to another rule when an Arts Council member performed at a function, he or she did not get any fee. He urged the Arts Council administration to abolish this rule.

When Saddar Town’s Nazim, Farooq Fariya, was requested to extend financial help to the Arts Council, he said that being a Memon he did not keep Pakistani currency. He said: “Memons either keep dollars or riyals.”

An altercation broke out when an Arts Council member took exception to this remark and, leaping to his feet, asked the Nazim to apologize publicly.

Adnan Siddiqui, Sabihuddin Ghausi, Nabeel, Sakina Samoon, Salamat Ali, Wamiq, Iqbal Haider, Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqi and others also spoke on the occasion.

Ahmed Shah introduced the speakers and Sajid Hasan compered the programme.