Corporate Support to artists

Miscellaneous topics on Carnatic music
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hnbhagavan
Posts: 1664
Joined: 21 Jun 2008, 22:06

Corporate Support to artists

Post by hnbhagavan »

Here is an interesting article relevant to rasikas.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/574 ... tists.html

munirao2001
Posts: 1334
Joined: 28 Feb 2009, 11:35

Re: Corporate Support to artists

Post by munirao2001 »

HNB Sir, Thanks for the link and I have read the article. I have posted my comments as given below:

"Corporate-CSR for Arts must become a reality. Professionalism in Arts management is a must. Funding should not be with the Aim of 'What mileage I/We get'. Funding -Music-discrimination & differentials-least for Karnatik Music, adequate for Hindustani Music and maximum for Western popular is unethical and must end. Connoisseur must end mind set of 'freebie' culture. Event manager must end supporting freebie culture due to the fear of loosing corporate/patron sponsorship and tap CSR funds meeting the terms and conditions diligently. Extremely popular artists receiving high fees must contribute to the foundations serving the poor and suffering fellow artists. Media must publish the stories of distress and support for wider appeal and inspired contributions. Management of Private Colleges and Schools must offer space, facilities free of cost or nominal costs for events and create special purpose fund with contributions of Parents Associations to support events. State council, legislative and parliamentary members must create corpus funds and fund local, regional and national events. Why not IT-cess funds for arts promotion and development-infrastructure; artists welfare managed by Ministry of Culture, in addition to the budgetary allocations ?"

munirao2001

hnbhagavan
Posts: 1664
Joined: 21 Jun 2008, 22:06

Re: Corporate Support to artists

Post by hnbhagavan »

Sri Munirao,

I have observed cold response from Rasikas and donations are hard to come by.Even Rs500/1000 will go a long way to meet the expenses.During one of the SRLK festivals,organisers remarked that the donation box kept was nearly empty at the end of the festival series.In fact during Rama Navami series,the aarti plate is taken all over.the idea is to indirectly get money may be at least for garland expenses.Here also i observed that people do not contribute although some percentage do put some contribution.

shankarank
Posts: 4223
Joined: 15 Jun 2009, 07:16

Re: Corporate Support to artists

Post by shankarank »

Corporates are busy funding ivy-leagues to translate the heritage into English to negotiate a seat at the table and become part of the club. So it becomes truly classical - means dead and in custody of University departments to analyze. Different languages Tamil/Kannada vying for classical status are committing a suicidal act!.

Rsachi
Posts: 5039
Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Corporate Support to artists

Post by Rsachi »

Of lateI have experienced outstanding cultural and other performances where the only money I spent was on transport. But remember, that is not a small amount, being several hundred rupees per event. They are:
1. Samskrita Bharati Sanskrit courses - extremely nominal fees/free for life-changing experience of the Sanskrit language.
2. Iskcon staging the Kalakshetra Ramayana on six days. It was a highly soul-stirring experience to see the heritage bequeathed by Rukmini Devi, Vasudevacharya, his grandson Rajaram, and others.
3. I found almost every concert at Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira and Nadasurabhi and Unnati is excellent.

I for one will not hesitate to buy ₹100/200 tickets for such events. They may not want to sell tickets but work to get funding from Corporate houses. But I find ugly banners and advertisements from liquor and saree and agarbatti companies shoved in my face and I hate it.

I feel sabhas to actively canvass donations under 80G. Many may contribute. One idea which someone tried before was to create an online portal which gives donation choices and info. to decide and donate. You get proper receipts etc. Why not organisations like Kalavanta and other sabhas create a common online portal mechanism? Should rasikas collaborate with a software co. to facilitate it? Maybe the HRD or Culture Ministry may also help set up such a portal.

About supporting artistes directly, I feel artistes don't like to take help or money directly from strangers. I may be wrong.

There was a mention here when MMI centenary happened, and later when a mridangam maestro passed away, for funds. I was able to respond and it was easy. A dream day would be when artistes are enrolled and enjoy a decent minimal monthly income through government support.

hnbhagavan
Posts: 1664
Joined: 21 Jun 2008, 22:06

Re: Corporate Support to artists

Post by hnbhagavan »

RSachi

I will restrict my comments to Carnatic Music.Once an artist is recognised by AIR graded artists,a retainer fee along the lines paid by BCCI should be paid to the artists on monthly basis.AIR is the best channel as each state Government can take care of musicians in the respective state.The sum fixed should be a decent one but as per Grade A,B or C.Each state government has enough funds in the kitty.In addition whatever the artists earn is as per their capability.It may exclude payment to such artists who are employed as Professors in Institutions.
As you pointed out organisers have a good number of sponsors.But even a daily ticket of Rs100/200,people shy away from the concert venues.

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