more-in In an attempt to take performing arts from Mandi House to Mandawali, the Delhi government is planning to offer free classes to government schools students, set up one venue per district and establish local clubs, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Sisodia said the government’s plan is to take high-quality arts and culture from their traditional home in Lutyens’ Delhi to the “gullies” all around the city. “Right now, you can pinpoint on a map of the city where the audiences come from to attend cultural events. Why not from Najafgarh, Karawal Nagar, Gokalpuri or Seemapuri? Children in Mandawali in my constituency (Patparganj) learn kathak, but they have to come to central Delhi to attend events,” said Mr. Sisodia, who is also Arts, Culture, Languages and Tourism Minister. To address that, Mr. Sisodia said, the government is planning to set up arts and culture clubs across the city. These clubs would hold smaller events in localities and help “develop the taste” of Delhiites for different art forms, he said. In addition to the clubs, he said about 100 street play groups would be set up all over the city to help promote arts with a message. In order to promote a message of “responsibility and critical thinking”, monthly programmes of music, dance and drama would be held at Connaught Place’s Central Park, he said. Making arts more accessible to children, Mr. Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, said free performing arts training would be given at all Delhi government schools. The proposal, which involves private academies using government schools after hours to hold classes, would be presented to the Cabinet within a month. With lack of good venues affecting events in the Capital, Mr. Sisodia admitted it was the “biggest challenge”. “We are planning to set up one art and culture centre in each district. This would include open theatres and would host regular events,” he said.

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