International Museum Day: Youth motivated to own and value culture

It included an exhibition of artisans-at-work along with live performances

The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) celebrated the International Museum Day at its premises on Monday with an aim to generate awareness regarding the significant role of museums in the educational, social, cultural and economic growth of a society.

The programmes organised to mark the occasion at the Pakistan National Heritage Museum and Pakistan Monument Museum included an exhibition of artisans-at-work along with live performances by folk artists, traditional puppeteers and drummers. The entry at both the museums was made free to ensure maximum visitors.

The programmes were arranged to create a link between culture and education so as to encourage the youth to value dignity of labour and respect different professions. Furthermore, the event promoted an understanding of local artists’ contribution in sustainable development of their community and country.



The occasion also provided students with an on-ground opportunity to understand and learn crafts, thus ensuring continuity of the skill from generation to generation, fostering ownership of culture.

Lok Virsa complex was decorated with colourful buntings and banners presenting a festive look throughout the day. Master artisans namely Habibur Rehman in truck art, Samiullah Khan in lacquer art, Gul-e-Zehra and Rubina Zulfiqar in embroidery, Mukhtar Dar in Namda/Gabba,  Zulfiqar Ghazi in papier mache, Sadaf Nisar in Motikari (bead work), Safeena in Phulkari, Fouzia Naheed in doll making, Irfan Ghulam Nabi in wood carving and others demonstrated their skills in the exhibition.

According to a press release, Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed said “the institute follows a pro-active approach of reaching out to artisans and folk artists, thus protecting precious dying crafts by acting as a bridge between intangible heritage and the modern world.” She added that the institution aims to strategise its programmes in a way that the computer-relied youth feels motivated to be part of cultural activities. The support of folklorists, poets, researchers, writers, scholars, educationists and others will always be welcomed in the implementation of this institution’s policies, she said further.

Lok Virsa remains the only institution in the country which offers financial assistance to cultural scholars/students, artisans and folk artists particularly from the remotest regions, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2015.