PolicyCulture
Murmu calls for money, training and markets for rural and folk artists
Presenting awards at the 65th National Exhibition of Art, the President said creative opportunity means little without economic support.
Key points
- President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards of the 65th National Exhibition of Art in New Delhi.
- She said artists in remote areas need economic support, training and exposure.
- Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat attended the ceremony.
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday called for artists in rural and remote parts of India to be given economic support, training and access to wider markets, as she presented the awards of the 65th National Exhibition of Art in New Delhi.
“Art is not just limited to shapes drawn on canvas or figures sculpted in stone; it is a mirror of our culture,” the President said.
She turned to the folk and tribal artists who rarely reach national galleries. “Many of these artists reside in remote, interior areas,” she said. “They need economic support, training, and exposure to contemporary requirements.”
Talent alone, she suggested, was not enough to sustain a living. “Creative opportunities must be accompanied by economic support and access to broader markets,” she said.
Murmu praised the Lalit Kala Akademi and the Ministry of Culture for creating platforms where artists can meet collectors, and commended the international participation in the third Print Biennale India.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal were present at the ceremony.