Chief Minister for preservation of art pieces at Alhamra Gallery
CARETAKER Chief Minister Najam Sethi has said that there is need for solid measures for preservation of historical and cultural heritage and paintings of renowned artists are a precious asset and their upkeep is a national responsibility.
He said a complete record of historical paintings should be maintained and an effective system should be devised for the preservation of the masterpieces of artists.
He was presiding over a meeting to review affairs of the Lahore Arts Council at Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Tuesday.
Sethi lauded the Lahore Arts Council for playing a commendable role in the promotion of various arts, saying that, however, there was need for effective measures for promotion of art activities. He said there were masterpieces of prominent painters in the Lahore Art Gallery and measures should be taken on emergent basis for their conservation to protect the national assets.
He sought a comprehensive plan regarding protection and safety measures for the paintings, adding that provision of assistance to the artists from Artists Welfare Fund was a commendable step as they were playing a laudable role in the promotion of cultural heritage. He said services of expert teachers should be acquired for the teaching and training in different arts.
The Lahore Arts Council executive director while giving a briefing on the measures taken for promotion of arts, development affairs and other issues said that the Lahore Arts Council was arranging conferences and programmes for the promotion of arts. He said only a nominal fee was charged from students for training in different arts, adding that Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts was conducting courses of three months’ duration for students. He said that Rs7.2 million were distributed among the artists last year from the Artists Welfare Fund.
Punjab Minister for Tourism & Archeology Salima Hashmi, the Planning & Development chairman, principal secretary to Chief Minister, secretaries Finance, Law, Local Government, Information, Regulations, Lahore Arts Council Chairman Ataul Haq Qasmi, LDA DG, Lahore DCO and other officers concerned were present.
(Thenews)
