AMRAPAALI January 2015 | Page 5

NEWSTREK NEED OF CULTURAL POLICY FOR MUMBAI Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, formerly known as Victoria and Albert Museum, established in 1855 is the oldest museum of the Mumbai city. It is situated in Byculla East and treasures decorative as well as industrial arts. The necessity of an expansion of a new building as part of its facilities, requires to have discussion with the local community, authorities and stakeholders as it is facing some kind of local protest due to loss of a playground for the local community. The Museum authorities are aware of this loss and is on process to find a solution to it with the local leaders. It needs to undergo serious plan on its cultural policy as it will enhance the economy and soft power of the city and the country as whole and specifically Mumbai’s cultural scenario. A country’s soft power is a tremendous potential sector for its growth wherein creative ventures and initiations could spring to great heights involving its performing arts, museums, art galleries, visual arts, films, amphitheaters, food culture, theatres, cultural hubs, etc. Amrapaali / January 2015 5 TIME FOR CHANGE WITH CULTURE! The Culture Minister, Republic of Slovenia Julijana Bizjak Mlakar proposes to emphasize more on cultural heritage to boost cultural tourism as investing opportunities for her region. She understands culture as "an important (developmental) factor in the development of an innovative and knowledge-based society that contributes to the efficiency of education, economic growth and employment, the development of democracy, and the fight against poverty and social exclusion.“ Julijana Bizjak Mlakar is an experienced politician; she was a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia in the 2008–2011 term. She has successfully worked especially in the fields of health care, education, culture and welfare and in other areas, where the public interest was endangered. Prior to her election to the National Assembly, she was Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Kamnik. As Minister of Culture, she will endeavour, together with her colleagues, to establish culture as an important (developmental) factor in the development of an innovative and knowledge-based society that contributes to the efficiency of education, economic growth and employment, the development of democracy, and the fight against poverty and social exclusion. As Minister of Culture, she wants to strengthen people’s awareness that culture is a product of the most creative forces in society, without which a community cannot exist. • Amrapaali Report HOME