July 22, 2020
How can art bring about such dramatic social change? In this case, it
was through the power of storytelling. Many Pakistani lawmakers had
never come face to face with a survivor of honour killings before they
heard Saba talk about her story. Good art can educate and create
empathy, and empathy leads to change. Global leaders in business and
politics are increasingly aware of this and are investing in art as a
way of engaging with communities, improving lives and boosting economic
growth.To get more news about art and its impact on society, you can visit shine news official website.
A Canadian business survey conducted in 2008 found that 86% of
respondents believed art made for more integrated and healthier
communities, while 88% thought it had a positive impact on health and
well-being. In economic terms, art more than pays its way. According to a
2015 report for Arts Council England, every pound of targeted public
arts funding returns £5 in tax. Still, more must be done to really use
the potential of art as an engine for progress.
Where the arts thrive, freedom of expression thrives. Art can directly
empower the most vulnerable members of society. In another Oscar-winning
documentary, Saving Face, I shone a spotlight on female victims of acid
attacks in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The film drew worldwide
attention and encouraged the local Punjabi government to do more to
support the victims. Their cases are now fast-tracked through special
anti-terrorism courts. Before, it took years to bring the perpetrators
to justice; now it takes months.
Of course, stories of injustice, protest and resilience are waiting
to be told all over the world, not only in Pakistan. My next film will
be about the difficulties of vulnerable young athletes in the seemingly
privileged scene of US college sports. In China, the artist Ai Weiwei
has highlighted numerous social issues through his installations and
sculptures. He has used his work to criticize the official response to
the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, to capture the fast pace of cultural change
in China, and even to document his own persecution and imprisonment.
Such social battles are not separate from economic progress, but go hand
in hand with it. Creativity and individual freedom can generate new
opportunities. In 2014, I directed Pakistan’s first animated feature
film, Three Braves, about two boys and a girl who are trying to save
their community from a villain. Pakistan has a very young population,
but because almost all our animated films are imported, children rarely
see local role models on screen. My aim was to provide inspiration while
also offering new prospects to young Pakistanis interested in media
work. Homegrown movies can change minds and create jobs. Already, a new
generation of Pakistani artists are developing their own animated films,
which will attract further investment to our country’s growing media
sector.
For such change to happen around the world, leaders in the arts, politics and business must work together. Many businesses are already commissioning public art, funding literary prizes or sponsoring film festivals. However, these efforts often focus on well-known institutions in large cities. While these are important, grassroots organizations, poor urban areas and rural regions can often benefit from cultural funding too.
In England, the contribution of arts and culture to the economy has grown fastest in regions that have been struggling to recover from the recession, according to the Arts Council report. Here in Karachi, where I live, I have seen how youth programmes can dramatically reduce violence by helping gang members escape the cycle of crime. Healthy communities support healthy businesses, which in turn feed economic growth.
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