Choose a new palette for India’s creative economy

Source: The post is based on the article “Choose a new palette for India’s creative economy” published in “The Hindu” on 6th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 1 – Art and culture

News: The article discusses the challenges faced by Indian artists in promoting their art.

What is creative economy and what is its significance?

The creative economy refers to sectors of an economy that involve the creation and exploitation of creativity or knowledge. It includes areas such as art, music, film, design, and digital content creation. Its significance lies in its contribution to job creation, economic growth, tourism, and exports, and its role in fostering societal development.

Notably, the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2022) recognized culture’s economic importance and transformative power for sustainable development.

What are the challenges faced by Indian artistes?

Economic and market challenges: Indian artists struggle with issues related to economic sustainability and gaining adequate market access to monetize their work.

Preservation of traditional art forms: In the face of rapidly changing societal trends, preserving and promoting traditional art forms presents significant challenges.

Inequalities in representation and support: Artists often face a lack of transparency in the selection process for financial assistance and event organization. Those based outside cities are particularly disadvantaged.

Crime in the art world: Artists must contend with art-related crimes such as theft, forgery, and illicit trafficking. These crimes undermine cultural heritage, financial security, and public trust.

What are the solutions for the creative economy?

Promoting a collaborative cultural economy: Creating a collaborative model that supports the cultural economy is vital. This includes encouraging tech-based start-ups in the arts sector.

Capacity-building centre for artists: A capacity-building centre can offer guidance, technical support, infrastructure, and access to investors, contributing to India’s soft power.

Training and professional development: Artists need training, professional development, and market access. Networking within larger communities can also foster knowledge sharing.

Leveraging data analytics: Data analytics can be utilized to foster creative ecosystems that contribute to a sustainable world, highlighting emerging trends and informing policy recommendations.

Facilitation mechanism for artists and entrepreneurs: A facilitation mechanism can focus on fostering knowledge sharing, networking, and economic empowerment for individual artists and creative entrepreneurs. This can be achieved by offering business training, incubating innovative projects, and connecting them with global marketing platforms, tools, and practices. This platform can provide sustainable livelihood solutions for artists and artisans, leveraging the latest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to enhance their participation in the business ecosystem.