Role of art in peace discussed

LAHORE
JUDE Kelly, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre (London’s largest and most vibrant cultural institution) delivered a lecture ‘After the War’ at Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) of the Beaconhouse National University (BNU) here on Friday.
According to a press release, in her lecture, Ms Kelly discussed how art can bring cohesiveness in war-affected regions like Pakistan and help in maintaining peace and tranquility. She discussed how the love and appreciation of art brought people together in the post-World War II era and the same could be done in Pakistan by celebrating diversity through art.
She was accompanied by British Council members, including Kevin McLaven, Director Punjab; Anum Asif, Project Coordinator, Higher Education & Schools and Mariam Zahid, Project Coordinator of Arts and English. Also present on the occasion were Shahid Hafiz Kardar BNU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Tariq Rehman, Dean Seeta Majeed School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS) and School of Education (SE); Dr Ruhi Khalid, Director Institute of Psychology (IP); Zaeem Yaqoob Khan, Director Student Affairs and External Relations, Mrs Farzana Shahid, Registrar BNU; Ms Kiran Umar Farooq Khan Kakar, Associate Professor and Head of the Textile, Fibre and Fashion Studies Department at SVAD.
Ms Kelly stressed upon the fact that when you offer arts by opening opportunities for people it interests them more. She talked about how an artist could create social content by making art relevant to people. She opined that art was a powerful source of expression and those who were blessed with it should create opportunities for other people. With the help of images, she showed how such opportunities were created at Southbank Centre which was aimed at exploring cultural integration and focus on the idea of people participation.
The lecture was followed by a question and answer session and meeting of Jude Kelley with BNU representatives where Vice-Chancellor was also present. Ms Kelly also visited the Fine Arts’ Studios where she appreciated the work done by the BNU students.