Day 1

1.         Art Policy 

The decimation of the economy took a heavy toll on the field of art and art commerce. Immediately after the break out of the pandemic, most funding organizations and agencies stalled their support and many sponsorships and grants were stopped or delayed indefinitely. The total halt to live performance and physical exhibitions have left many art practitioners and artisans’ jobless and underemployed. 

What changes can be made to government art policies that may help art recover from this challenging situation? What can institutions and galleries do to help the sector and what are the new protocols and standards we should aspire toward?

2. Digitalization of the Arts

As soon as physical gatherings were restricted due to new pandemic regulations, live performances also had to be reimagined or cancelled altogether. However, the artistes’ community did not sit idly by, they began exploring the virtual realm. Through the mediation of cameras and Internet connections, artists began developing their homes into performance spaces.   Many different kinds of experiments began to take place.  On one hand, this trend hints towards the development of new media and digital art, on the other, it raises questions about the agency of creators, audiences and mediators in this time of crises. The fear of state censorship also raises many questions for performers and artists, as does the economic effects upon performers and venues. 

What is the direction of digital performance and how will this affect the tradition of live performance? What impact will digital performances have on the livelihoods of artists and how will they be remunerated for their performances? Is the digital realm a viable alternative to public performances and who stands to benefit the most?

3.         Education

a)         Rehabilitation of children

Education is considered as one of the 6 fundamental rights according to the Constitution of India. Schools run by the state in India are not only institutes that provide education, but they also play a major role in child rehabilitation, whilst keeping track of the dropouts and child labour infringements laws. Schools help our society in preventing child trafficking, child abuse and other dangers young people face in the country. Schools provide a mid-day meal, a system that ensures that basic nutrition needs for rural and urban underprivileged children are met. When the lock-down happened this system was adversely affected. While the gap of a year in formal education is something manageable, deterioration of the other infrastructure and services is extremely alarming for the future of a growing nation. 

What strategies can we utilize to rehabilitate the schooling system irrespective of re-opening of schools? What methods are being developed to bring children back to the childhoods they deserve? What can the art fraternity do to help improve children’s lives during this difficult time? What does the future of education in State-run schools in India look like?

b)  Mental health in Education 

As the pandemic affected the education system in India, it also clearly showed the ineffectiveness of digitalization in India. The pandemic affected not only students, but also teachers and policy makers, all of whom suffered in different ways. Hence, it is important to ponder on the mental health of students, teachers and managers and also analyze the special education system in this context.

How are these stakeholders dealing with the situation? How did the pandemic affect education groups and how are they sustaining themselves during this period? Whilst we are exploring special education, we also need to learn and listen to parents, teachers, students and NGO’s in the sector.    

Day 2

Activism

4.         Protest against discriminatory oppression 

In the background of the protests against discriminatory CAA and NRC laws in India, the Coronavirus broke out. The movement was unique in its expression as it took various artistic actions to convey its political agenda. 

Likewise, during the COVID pandemic, and after the sad demise of George Floyd at the hands of US police, a global anti-racist movement spread through the world in the name of ‘Black Lives Matter’. That movement also used different artistic approaches, including the use of performance, music and social-media to promote its viewpoint.

These may not be isolated phenomena developed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Art has always been a weapon of the oppressed to protest against discriminatory oppression. 

These movements also bring about the age-old debate about the purpose and efficacy of art in achieving political aims.

What is the significance of the arts in bringing expression to activism? 

How has art inspired and influenced contemporary activism in India? 

What is the anthropological connection between Art and Human Rights that facilitates, nurtures and explains this phenomenon? 

5.         Environment & Sustainability in Arts

When the world stopped – the natural world flourished. As we were restricted to our man-made habitats the natural world fought back to reclaim the seas, skies and forests – free from our polluting infiltrations. 

Now as we begin returning to our previous rhythms and habits, the arts sector has also started opening up fairs and festival opportunities, leading to increased travel.

What learning’s from the ‘frozen moments’ can we continue implementing in the art world, especially in the celebrations of arts – the festivals, biennales and carnivals? How can we make post-COVID-19 art gatherings more sustainable for the environment?

6.         Commerce

The growing market of festivals, fairs and biennales received a big jolt due to the sudden halt caused by Covid-19 crisis.  While they are essential to keep the wheels of the Art Economy running, their numbers and frequency are mounting pressure on resources, both economic and ecological.  Since some of them had a tryst with a complete Digital platform this year, probably we are ready to relook and rediscover them differently.

How viable Hybrid formats are?  Can we restructure them to cover up for the reduction in physical interactions? Who will decide how much is enough? Can some policies be formed to weave-in factors that ensure environmental sustainability? Is it possible to merge some of them to reduce the overall number?            

• Dr. Shubhra Nag                             
• Nobina Gupta & Saptarshi Mitra                           
• Mansav Arora & Vanika Saberwal                             
• Dr. Rinita Mazumdar