India International Centre hosts dialogue on culture and livelihoods

Sonal Mansingh convened artists, lawmakers, academics and creative-industry representatives at the India International Centre in New Delhi for Swarnika Samvaad, a dialogue on culture’s role in development.

Held as part of the Centre for Indian Classical Dances’ Golden Jubilee celebrations, the programme considered how artistic traditions can contribute to education, tourism, community life and economic opportunity. Mansingh called for artists, policymakers and ministries to discuss support for performing arts practitioners and the sector’s links with growth.

The opening session featured MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Sasmit Patra. It also included the release of *Rhythm of a Lifetime*, an illustrated book on Mansingh created by school students.

Later panels considered how festivals, crafts, cuisine, performing arts and digital platforms can help traditions reach newer audiences. Speakers discussed professional training, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, intellectual property, public policy and investment as factors in making cultural work sustainable.

The sessions focused on practical questions of training, infrastructure, policy and investment for cultural workers.