PESHAWAR: Due to lack of industrial development, unemployment and rising inflation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the focus of policy makers is on everything except the promotion of art and culture.
That is the reason that despite the presence of budding artists, there is no art gallery where they can put their work on display. This is also the reason that those who chose to follow this profession cannot see a future in it, and thus the art can be passion for some individuals, but it never becomes their true profession or the source of earnings.
“The display center or art gallery can promote the art scene but despite commitments, the government has yet to establish an art gallery,” Imran Khan, a young artist told Mashriq. Khan said the artists spend a lot money on paintings but there is no return, as there is no avenue where they can display artwork and attract buyers.
The artist said that in the past good days, when tourists use to visit the city, they would also purchase artwork, but now even that opportunity has lost because of terrorism and now because Covid-19 pandemic.
Talking about the presence of training opportunities in the city, Imran Khan said that there is no such institute available in the city. Khan said that in the past, the Abasin Arts council – founded in October 14, 1955 – has trained and produced painting artists. “The council had started art-related activities in city and produced some seasoned artists who represented Peshawar at international level,” the artist said.
The council organized art classes, exhibitions and annual awards for the city but now its activities are limited to poetry sessions, despite getting annual grants from the provincial government. The Iranian consulate has also arranged arts classes and exhibitions, but now there are no instructors to nourish the talent.
The culture department has arranged some exhibitions for selected artists at Nishtar hall, but for the last two years no such activity has taken place because of Covid-19 and lack of interest. The culture department officials said that funds have been allocated for art display center but due to the economic crises and then because of the Covid-19 pandemic, they department failed to see the light of the day.