Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh govt is stepping up efforts to connect Gen Z with the state’s cultural heritage through museums, youth clubs, tourism campaigns and digital storytelling initiatives.A key focus area is giving students direct exposure to history and art through museum visits.Around 3,000 students from seven PM SHRI schools in Sitapur are scheduled to visit State Museum in Lucknow on Sept 16 and 17. The visits are part of a broader one-day study tour programme for Classes 9 to 12 in PM SHRI govt secondary schools across 57 districts.Under the initiative, students will visit museums run by the culture department in their own district or nearby districts. The programme includes free entry, support services and guided tours intended to help students engage with exhibits beyond what they typically encounter in textbooks or online content.The current round in Lucknow began on Sunday, when nearly 600 students from two city schools visited State Museum. The ongoing schedule covers 25 PM SHRI schools from Lucknow, Hardoi, Unnao, Sitapur, Rae Bareli and Barabanki, with visits continuing through Sept 19.Officials said the museum experience is designed to make history more tangible for students by allowing them to view original collections such as antiquities, sculptures, coins and paintings. The exhibits are being positioned as a way to help young visitors understand the evolution of Uttar Pradesh’s art, society and traditions through first-hand observation.Alongside museum outreach, the govt is encouraging young residents to explore and promote local cultural identity through the “Visit My State” campaign. Under the initiative, participants are invited to create 60-second reels in their own voice highlighting local heritage, food, traditions, people and lesser-known attractions.The tourism and culture departments are also working to expand youth participation through cultural clubs and yuva tourism clubs.Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said preparations were underway for a cultural talent hunt under a proposed “Sanskriti Utsav,” with clubs expected to participate in dance, drama and music activities across all 75 districts.Additional chief secretary for tourism & culture Amrit Abhijat said meaningful cultural connection required direct participation.“They must be able to see an original object, experience a tradition, participate in an art form and tell a local story in their own voice,” he said, adding that such engagement could help create a generation that becomes a “natural cultural ambassador” for Uttar Pradesh.
