British Council and Assam Government have joined hands to launch a new course titled ‘Festivals for the Future’.
The new course which is being offered by British Council in association with Assam Cultural Affairs department, seeks to promote and enhance skills of professionals who are working the fields of festival management across the country.
The Festivals of Future Course will be three-day programmes which will help workers associated with festivals in the country develop the necessary skills and talents.
Festivals Academy provides a first-of-its-kind platform for festival practitioners to network, explore their festival’s creative vision, share knowledge and expertise, and discuss challenges relevant to the growing festival sector in the country.
Festivals Academy facilitates access to international methodology and resources for festival management enabling partnership links with the UK’s own cultural festivals.
Regarding the festival, Assam cultural affairs minister Naba Kumar Doley said, “Assam has a rich culture of festivals that are well known across the country as does the Northeast of India.
“We are delighted that a programme such as Festivals Academy is being launched in India from Guwahati. We welcome participants from all over the country, and the UK experts, and look forward to the rise of the Indian festivals sector.”
Speaking on the occasion, Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director East and Northeast India, British Council said, “We are delighted to launch British Council India’s national programme Festivals Academy programme here in Guwahati, in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam.
“In the last three years, we have strengthened our programme offer in the Northeast in culture and education, made them more sustained and sustainable,” Chakrabarti said.
He said it is appropriate that 24 participants from nine states across India are here in Guwahati to take part in the first Festivals Academy programme.
Chakrabarti said a part of the Festivals for the Future programme, this initiative will connect and support the professionalisation of the burgeoning festivals sector in India and the UK.
“There are over 150 festivals in the UK and in India and the creative industries have grown by 18 per cent since 2017. This underlines the economic and employment opportunities in this vibrant sector,” he added.