he Arts Council, Karachi, is taking the lead in hosting festivals that include groups from countries around the world. The tradition of organising arts festivals was also started and sustained for about 15 years carried by the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop in Lahore. Many groups from other countries engaged in theatre, music, puppetry, dance and mime play reading participated in those festivals. Unfortunately the welcome routine came to an end following a terrorist attack on their festival in 2008.

Since then the festivals held in Lahore have had little foreign participation. Gradually, the focus has shifted to Karachi, particularly the Arts Council where Ali Ahmed Shah is the prime mover. Resourceful well motivated, he gets things done at an impressive pace. It appears that he and Anwar Maqsood work well in tandem and get through the chores efficiently and without running into obstacles. Ali Ahmed Shah has also been bold enough to take the activities organised by the Karachi Arts Council beyond to emphasise that the arts or artistic expression should not and cannot be limited to just of one city and belong everywhere in the country. Cultural exchanges are needed across the globe, Justas they are needed across Pakistan.

It is difficult to list here all the groups expected to participate in the World Culture Festival the KAC is organising and the significant players who will be there but mention has been made of Cocoon Dance Company from Germany. The festival, featuring more than 450 artists from 40 countries, began on September 26 (Thursday) at Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, and will continue till October 30.

Cocoon Dance, a German-Swiss performance art collective founded in 2000 by choreographer Rafae le Giovanola and dramaturge Rainald Endraß, has become a key player in contemporary dance. Since 2005, the company has created around 40 productions that have toured globally and won numerous awards. Their work emphasises improvisation, teamwork and innovative approaches to stage and body perception, inviting audiences to engage in both the representation and creation of reality. Cocoon Dance challenges traditional stage conventions, transforming the dance space into a realm of thought and perception.

Cocoon Dance, a German-Swiss performance art collective founded in 2000 by choreographer Rafae le Giovanola and dramaturge Rainald Endraß, has become a key player in contemporary dance. Cocoon Dance challenges traditional stage conventions, transforming the dance space into a realm of thought and perception.

Erica Lauren Wise from Spain will play music at the World Culture Festival as well.

Many groups, it appears will also be participating from the various Gulf countries. Although Pakistanis have a huge exposure to these Gulf countries and actually been involved in building the modern state structure and infrastructure, the impression of these being conservative and not given to the promotion of the aural and visual arts has persisted.

However, huge galleries and museums are being built or have been built in these countries with emphasis on Islamic art with collections that have astounded the world.

These are also becoming the centre of world art, including the performing arts. Most of the art activity in Pakistan, too, is routed through what happens in these vibrant art markets.

In the performing arts arena, major global companies do come and perform in the Gulf thus making it a hub of art activity that also draws on Indian and Pakistani talent.

More than forty groups from various countries are to take part in this year’s festival. This will also provide an opportunity to the local dance and theatre groups to mingle with the foreign participants and exchange ideas with them. Such exchanges are always valuable and result in promoting creative activity that breaks the moulds that are difficult to break from within.

It could be a pipe dream it is but possible that these groups may be facilitated to participate and perform in other cities across the country as well. The logistical requirements will be huge and can be overwhelming but then the likes of Ali Ahmed Shah are known to accomplish what once appeared to be impossible. Such activities can only help promote a soft image of Pakistan and end its cultural isolation.

The author is a culture critic based in Lahore