Ministry of Culture administers the scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship Financial Support to protect Folklore Artists

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Culture administers the scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship Financial Support to protect Folklore Artists” published in PIB on 23rd December 2022

What is the News?

The Minister of Culture has informed the Lok Sabha about the steps taken by the Government to support and promote Folk art and culture. 

What are the steps taken by the Ministry of Culture to promote Folk art and Culture?

Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for promotion of art and culture: Under the scheme, the Ministry of Culture provides financial assistance to scholars and artists, including folklore artists. Assistance will be in the form of scholarships and fellowships to pursue their respective forms of art and buy specific art instruments etc. 

Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme(CTSSS): The scheme is administered by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture. 

The scheme provides facilities to young talented children in the age group of 10–14 years to study various art forms. Under this scheme, 650 scholarships are awarded every year, out of which 100 are reserved for Tribal Culture (ST candidates).

Funds Festivals: Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides funds for Tribal Festivals (at the State Level) like the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, Pawl-Kut festival of Mizoram and Medaram Jatra of Telangana through Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs). 

Zonal Culture Centres(ZCC): They have been set up to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture throughout the country. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes all over the country on regular basis, for which folk and tribal artists are engaged to showcase their talents.

OCTAVE: It is a festival organized regularly by the Zonal Cultural Centres(ZCCs) to promote and protect the rich cultural heritage of the North East Region. Only folk & tribal artists belonging to the North East Region are specifically provided with an opportunity to perform during this festival, for which they are provided remuneration.