World Culture Festival offers art exhibition, music concert

The ongoing World Culture Festival at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) on Saturday offered musical performances by various local and foreign artistes as well as an art exhibition.

The art exhibition was titled ‘Behind the Stage’. It was jointly inaugurated by Sindh Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, and Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmed Shah. The exhibition displayed artworks from six Pakistani and 20 foreign artists.

The exhibition was visited by several people associated with fine arts and art lovers, including a delegation from South Africa. Renowned artist Farrukh Shahab also visited the show.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, the Sindh culture minister appreciated the fact that the ongoing festival at the ACP was gaining popularity all over the country. He said that holding such cultural activities in Karachi would promote a positive image of the entire Pakistan before the international community.

He suggested that ACP students should visit the Mehran University and Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritages in Jamshoro to enhance their learning.

The ACP President said they had been receiving artistes from all over the country. “We have been conducting musical activity and dance performances in addition to promoting folk art,” he added.

He said artworks from Azerbaijan would also arrive at the ACP for an exhibition.

Ahmed Shah expressed gratitude to the budding artists for participating in the exhibition.

He explained that many graduates of the art programme at the ACP belonged to underprivileged localities, including Lyari, had had gained a celebrity status in the field of fine arts.

Meanwhile, a grand musical concert featuring local and foreign musicians was held at Jaun Elia Lawn of the ACP.

The Pakistani musicians who performed included sitarist Nafees Khan, tabla player Bashir Khan and Imran Momina on the piano.

The foreign musicians who displayed their talents included Madan Gopal from Nepal; Peace Jolis, Lea Dia, Delah Dube amd Gasasira Rugamba Serge from Rwanda; and Kamran Karimov and Sahib Pashazade from Azerbaijan.

Geo and the Jang group are the media partners of the ACP in the World Culture Festival.