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Grant for Orissa Lalit Kala Akademi announced

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government would provide a grant of Rs.10 lakh to the Orissa Lalit Kala Akademi for promotion of tribal art. It would further recommend the Utkal University of Culture to confer an honorary doctorate degree on internationally-acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik. These were some of the major announcements, which Culture Minister S.N. Patro made during the 32nd annual award presentation ceremony of the Akademi at Jayadev Bhawan here on Thursday.

The Akademi felicitated Mr. Sudarsan on the occasion for bringing laurels to the nation and dignity to Orissa art. Besides eight young artists of the State were presented the prestigious State awards in four categories by the Minister. They were Managobinda Puhana, Soumya Ranjan Nayak, Sasikanta Rout and Chandan Rout (painting); Sasmita Moharana and Animesh Mohapatra (traditional art); Patitapaban Ojha (graphics) and Keshab Chandra Nath (sculpture).

Each of the awards carries a cash prize of Rs.25, 000 and a certificate.

The State Government enhanced the cash award from Rs.10, 000 to Rs.25, 000 this year, informed Akademi secretary Chandramani Biswal on the occasion. He appealed to the Minister to provide an assistance of Rs.5-crore for undertaking various programmes to make the Akademi self-reliant.

Akademi Vice-President Sarat Rath presided while Commissioner of Culture B.K. Jena was present.

A three-day State-level art exhibition showcasing the awarded works and selected entries for the year was opened on the occasion by the Minister.

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