The Smart Cities mission provides a significant opportunity to promote creative industries in India, an FICCI-EY report titled "Creative arts in India" has revealed.

Launched at the 'Smart cities, Art Cities', the report covers the opportunities provided by the Indian performing arts industry.

Creative clusters in smart cities, which are unique to the character, resources and the local community can serve as a focal point to brand a city's unique cultural identity and embrace its historic significance.

The report also includes a survey with eminent personalities in the industry to understand the challenges faced by the sector. Inadequate infrastructure has emerged as the top most challenge, with obtaining sponsorships and onerous regulations governing the sector completing the top three.

It also highlights the regulatory support the industry expects from the government, with easing out of permissions, rationalisation of entertainment tax and availability of credit emerging as the top three.

The report also highlights three key recommendations for the sustained success of the Indian theatre, dance and crafts industry:

  • Form an association/ body of India theatre/ dance and craft practitioners that exclusively worked for the upliftment and promotion of the sector
  • Involve the private sector to invest in the creative arts of the country by adequately incentivising them through tax incentives
  • Develop creative clusters showcasing the region's local culture within Smart Cities to attract tourists and residents