Kochi to be developed as an arts centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAMl: The first-ever International Contemporary Visual Arts Fest in India, ‘Kochi-Muziris Biennale-2011’ will be conducted in Kochi, the high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy decided. The meeting has decided to conduct the festival in Kochi, Alappuzha and other centres every two years. The three-month-long programme will begin on the Keralapiravi day in 2012. The programme will be led by government representatives and Kochi Biennale Foundation. 75 artists from across the world are expected to participate. Contemporary films, videos and statues will be part of the exhibition. The festival is aimed at developing Kochi as a centre of arts.To the Rs 75 crore programme, the government share would be Rs 25 crore. Measures will be taken to provide assistance from the Central Government as well. The Kochi Durbar Hall has been renovated into a centre of arts with ultra modern facilities using Rs 5 crore. Another Rs 5 crore will be allotted for continuing programmes.  Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph said that for organising this, a coordination committee would be formed with Chief Minister as chairman and Cultural Affairs Minister, Tourism Minister, MLAs and MPs in Ernakulam and Mayor of Kochi as members. In the high-level committee meeting, Ministers T M Jacob, V K Ebrahimkunju, A P Anilkumar, K Babu, former minister M A Baby, Mayor of Kochi Tony Chammini, MLAs Benny Bahanan, Dominic Presentation, Cultural Department principal secretary Sajan Peter and artists Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu participated.