open house: What more should be done to revive cultural spaces in the city

Artistic heritage and cultural sites are an asset in any city. These are the prized possessions that can boost the overall development and prosperity of any town or city. The masses have an inherent curiosity to behold, explore and learn more and more about these spaces, and that is visible in the increased footfall of tourists to these places. It is the duty of the district administration to save and protect the heritage and artistic flavours of these cultural treasures, along with maintaining regular scrutiny of these spaces. There should be a designated department and a dedicated team with adequate resources to take care of all this. This drive, coupled with some efforts and thoughts, can hugely add to the economic development and money to the exchequer by dint of footfall and word-of-mouth publicity. The government and officials concerned should take utmost care of these spaces.

Dr Raman Gupta

Create more artistic havens in city

The recently held book fair with its hustle-bustle, cultural events and artistic masterpieces in the backdrop of the picturesque Khalsa College building was a thing of beauty. I was taken aback by the generous footfall at this event. Today's monotonous life puts our mental health at risk, but such gatherings help in combating mental fatigue. Various steps should be taken to increase the participation of the general public in such enriching affairs. Artists should be identified at the community level. Good social media engagement should also be taken care of, and security arrangements should be made at the venues of these events. Competitions and partnerships with local art galleries can also be ensured for a boost. Creative branding of events and traffic management near the sites are essential to ensure the success of these events. Overall, these gatherings help in improving the mood and mindfulness of residents, combating social isolation and anxiety, thereby creating artistic havens for art lovers and the general public in the city.

Dr Vikramjit Singh

Revival of cultural spaces is good

Certainly, more needs to be done to revive cultural spaces in the city. It would be a positive step and in the right direction, as art lovers belong to all age groups. The youth of our city are busy scrolling social media applications. If there are more artistic havens in the city, these will serve as an alternative for children to relax and also help revive cultural spaces. By viewing good paintings and other artworks, youngsters and children will also be encouraged to participate and contribute to the creative fields. Moreover, people of other age groups, too, will feel more relaxed if they have such spaces they can visit to de-stress after a tiring day. In a nutshell, the revival of such cultural spaces would be beneficial to all residents of the city.

Sanjay Chawla

Celebrate heritage through art

Art and culture play a vital role in preserving, showcasing and celebrating our diverse heritage. These events, whether presented through exhibitions, TV programmes or live performances, act as a bridge that connect people to traditions, creativity and shared human experiences. Right from the earlier days, it has been a prime source of socialisation and joyous celebrations. Even now, an increasing public interest in such activities is amply in evidence through encouraging footfall at art and cultural programmes held in the city at places like KL Sehgal Auditorium, colleges/schools, youth programmes, NRI conventions and so on. Art shows provide a platform for both emerging and established artists to display their work, encouraging dialogue around contemporary issues, innovation and aesthetics. Likewise, exhibitions and cultural events arranged at historic/ social occasions, festival melas, displays of traditional paintings and digital performances not only attract people but also reflect positive narratives in society. At the same time, cultural initiatives delve into the customs, rituals, music, folk dance and heroic stories of yesteryear. Additionally, they help promote understanding and foster unity among different communities by offering people a chance to experience lifestyles and philosophies that might differ from their own. With the growth of digital platforms, art and culture shows these days have become even more accessible. In a world that is constantly changing, art and culture events keep reminding us about the importance of creativity, rich heritage and ancient traditions while carving out a vision for the future. More specifically, they entertain and educate society besides inspiring the younger generation to value and contribute to social fabric in a big way. Experiencing an overwhelming response in recent such engagements and residents eagerly inclining towards artistic and cultural nodes, the revival of such activities becomes desirable, where the art lovers can unwind and relax to find a calm and creative space amidst busy lives. This is required to insulate our younger generation from the vulgarity and violence that are prevalent, so that they remain firmly attached to roots, societal values and ethics.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

City’s artistic talent needs platforms

Punjab is the land of Gurus, where diverse art forms are embedded in its tradition and passed down generations as part of our sacred and most cherished culture. And the city of Jalandhar is famous for its sporting goods and food. However, it is also an epicentre for artistic activities. Countless skills and talents can be found here. Occasionally, many meets and events for artists have been prominent in the city, with more and more people stepping up and participating in recreational activities. In various communities, there is a growing awareness that new talent emerges from promising children to seasoned adults. However, the availability of venues for hosting such events to showcase their skills is surprisingly limited. This is a sign for the government to regulate the community activities in musical and visual art to provide a platform for aspiring artists to reach a global audience. Unfortunately, there are few negligible places for artists to showcase their talent, which demotivates the masses and is prominently the reason for many unrecognised and discouraged talented people being left behind. Places such as Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall, KL Sehgal Memorial Hall and Red Cross Bhavan are the only venues left for organising recreational activities, which, however, aren't accessible to all. Hence, it is the duty of the state government to form and open doors to all artists to provide them with platforms, places and avenues with modern amenities to display their talent and bring fame to the city. This will not only motivate the public but also make our city a place full of potential big names and contribute to boosting the reputation of the city at the national as well as

international level.

Lakshit Jindal

Attract sponsors, maintain venues

The encouraging gatherings indicate that people are eager for cultural and artistic activities. Therefore, such activities should be revived for people who love them and gather in large numbers to witness the display and performances. The venues are few and not in good condition. No community hall is there for a get-together. Interactive workshops on painting, art and culture should be organised where people from all age-groups should be involved. Encourage local artists to hold workshops to exhibit their talent. Festivals at the community level at public places should attract spontaneous participants. Low-cost tickets of Rs 100 or so should be offered to make the event affordable. People don't mind spending, and with the money collected from these events, maintenance of the venues and artists can also be done. People can even come forward to expand their business and sponsor the events. Artists who are participating in these events should be interviewed and residents should be kept informed on social media. All these cultural and creative programmes should be revived, as it is the need of the hour for the people to meet and greet.

Shashi Kiran

Cultural activities help revive tradition

Punjab is known for its rich heritage, as on the eve of any festival, social events like bhangra, giddha and Punjabi folk songs are a major attraction for the people. In spite of this, Punjabi films, Punjabi theatre, skits and other items are highlighted through social media, nukkad meetings and celebrating festivals in schools or colleges. Music has the power of changing the mood of the people. Along with this, music encourages people to dance and enjoy tunes related to India's heritage. Music is part of our culture. In Jalandhar, the Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan is being organised for more than 100 years now, in which India's top talented artists have performed. Music has the power to keep you happy even if you are tense. The state government popularises the concept of Rangla Punjab and holds programmes and functions in villages, schools, colleges and open places through the Department of Information and Public Relations. Social organisations should come forward to organise cultural programmes at various places to motivate the masses to embrace their heritage and culture. Cultural activities have a relaxing effect on the mind. Therefore, colleges and universities should hold social and cultural functions and invite the general public to enjoy the real flavour of music, heritage and culture to unwind and enjoy their great traditions.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Reviving community celebrations with art

The growing use of social media as a way of communication and entertainment has tragically deprived us of the value of celebrating art and culture through community gatherings. Primarily, we are social beings, deeply connected through our common history and cultural heritage, which needs to be occasionally celebrated through art and music at a given place and time. Of late, with digital progress, we have forgotten to enjoy the happiness of meeting like-minded people on a common platform. To remain mentally content and socially relevant, we have to explore all avenues of community celebrations. We should form voluntary groups through social media to meet occasionally at a given time and venue, like some auditorium or open public space, and enjoy music or other artistic pursuits to be voluntarily contributed by inviting guests and artists on a payment basis. To mention such an initiative, Bollywood Club, Jalandhar, is doing a marvellous job of getting their members occasionally entertained by organising musical concerts. Mostly, their members are senior citizens who wish to enjoy Hindi film songs and spend quality time together listening to the music of their choice. Such initiatives need to be followed by other community members to pursue different cultural celebrations with different contents

and styles.

Jagdish Chander