ARThinkSouthAsia (ATSA) programme seeks to empower arts managers in the planning and development of sustainable cultural organisations. Arts professionals learn critical management aspects such as strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, digital media, human resources, and financial planning, keeping cultural values as a core of the programme. I came to know about ATSA through the ATSA alumni network, people who have followed my work here in Bangladesh and felt that I will be an appropriate candidate for the programme. I was highly encouraged to apply for the ARThinkSouthAsia Fellowship 2017-18 which was designed to develop the skills, knowledge and experience of potential leaders in the cultural sector of South Asia. Winners were announced on 10 January 2017. I was one of the winners and the only one from Bangladesh!
Having the opportunity to be an ATSA fellow will indeed be a noteworthy milestone in my professional career as I am eagerly looking forward to learning and exploring the arts management scene in South Asia while I present my own. I feel exchanges and knowledge sharing opportunities provide much-needed capacity building scopes to competent individuals who usually go unrecognised in the more traditional educational and training formats. The concept of arts management requires specialised and customised attention catering to the particular needs of arts managers and the ATSA fellowship programme is doing a great job in providing that platform.
The British Council has been taking a commendable stance in supporting the global arts and culture scene in Bangladesh. I thank the British Council for partnering up with capacity building programmes such as ATSA that involve multicultural exchanges because I feel this will have the most profound impacts on the development of art professionals. Opportunities as such will arm key individuals with the access to knowledge and growth which are extremely substantial in taking any cause forward.
My involvement with the British Council is rooted in my childhood since the day I started my membership in the British Council Library. Interestingly, the British Council has been a part of some major highlights of my life involving my GCSE O' and A' Level examinations, steps that have shaped me into the person that I am today. I have countless memories attached to the British Council and it will always be one of the more contributory institutions in my career.
I am hopeful that the British Council will continue to support and provide opportunities conducive to the development of the arts and culture scene in Bangladesh by being at the forefront of providing a stronger foothold for the country globally.