Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a cultural crisis that deserves far greater public and governmental attention. The irony is that the crisis is not caused by a lack of talent. This land continues to produce accomplished singers, musicians, composers, actors, filmmakers, theatre practitioners, writers and traditional artists, many of whom have dedicated their entire lives to preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage. Yet today, a large number of genuine and deserving artists are struggling for basic opportunities and livelihood. For many, art is not a pastime but their profession, their identity and their only source of income. Unfortunately, the system appears to have little space for many of those who have actually spent decades serving the cultural landscape of J&K.

The absence of a meaningful and comprehensive cultural policy has made matters worse. There is no properly structured annual cultural calendar that can provide regular opportunities to local artists, no effective mechanism for identifying and supporting young talent and no sustained........

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