The Cluster University of Jammu signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Culture to promote art, culture and heritage, the Daily Excelsior reported. The agreement establishes a framework for collaborative projects including workshops, exhibitions and research into local traditions such as Dogri folk forms and Basohli art. Officials from both institutions attended the signing ceremony in Jammu where they outlined plans to integrate cultural preservation into university curricula. This partnership builds directly on the university’s establishment of a dedicated Department of Performing Arts in December 2025 that has already produced original regional theatre works.
A statement from the Department of Culture described the MoU as a means to document and digitize elements of intangible heritage while providing training opportunities for students and practicing artists. The collaboration will extend to rural outreach programs aimed at engaging younger generations in traditional practices across the union territory. According to government records the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has documented more than 200 folk tales and songs in recent years through similar institutional ties. The pact includes provisions for annual joint events and curriculum support for new certificate courses in heritage management.
Vice Chancellor Prof K S Chandrasekar of Cluster University of Jammu emphasized the alignment with national education priorities during the event covered by the Daily Excelsior. The university which operates five constituent colleges will designate specific campuses as centers for cultural activities under the agreement. Earlier initiatives by the institution included a November 2025 workshop on Basohli miniature painting that drew hundreds of participants from across its schools. Data from the Ministry of Culture shows comparable university partnerships have contributed to a measurable increase in youth participation in cultural programs regionally.
Principal Secretary for Culture B M Sharma welcomed the MoU as an opportunity to formalize cooperation between academic and administrative bodies responsible for heritage. The Department of Culture has expressed readiness to support postgraduate training and research through this channel as noted in prior official communications. The agreement runs for an initial five-year period with built-in review mechanisms to evaluate progress on joint objectives. Cluster University of Jammu has participated in multiple national-level cultural festivals in the past year including the North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival.
The development coincides with broader growth in cultural tourism within Jammu and Kashmir where official statistics indicate a 30 percent rise in visitors to heritage locations during 2025. Both parties committed to exploring digital platforms for wider dissemination of regional art forms as part of the MoU deliverables. Faculty from the university’s School of Humanities and Liberal Arts will lead implementation alongside department experts. This initiative adds to a series of steps taken since the launch of the performing arts department to embed cultural education more deeply in higher learning.
