Seek state support to cope with Covid lockdown
@hepzia
Mumbai: Folk and stage artists from various performing art forms from the traditional Tamasha to contemporary orchestras will protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on September 16 to demand opening up of performing art avenues like stage and theatres.
Artists and background support staff from about 150 organisations across Maharashtra under the aegis of Federation of Artists Association (FAA) are also demanding compensation from the state government for their loss of livelihood due to the six months of lockdown in the state owing to the Covid pandemic.
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“Everything else has opened up right be it the malls or the alcohol shops or even public functions in halls. Then why cannot the theatre and stage be allowed to open up with proper social distancing strictures?” asks Manoj Sansare from the FAA. He says that these artists including the show anchors, those performing in hotels along with their support and background staffers like the light men, makeup artists, technicians, sound systems personnel of various groups like Lejhim bands, the banjo groups and even the traditional Vasudeo’s (wanderers) of the state, were now facing starvation and urgently need state intervention and support.
The artists would be protesting in their traditional attire, Sansare informed.
