The latest government allocation of Rs 2 crore for the ongoing Kochi Muziris Biennale has failed to perk up the spirits of Biennale trustees, who had made a pitched plea for immediate release of at least Rs 6 crore to pay up mounting debts.
“The present edition of the Biennale started on a debt of Rs 2.5 crore and the government assured us last year that it would make the same contribution as the maiden edition — Rs 9 crore,” says Bose Krishnamachari, president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation.
“The budget allocation was just Rs 2 crore when our estimate for the current edition till June this year was Rs 26 crore.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pride that the Biennale has given the city, the State and its people is priceless and cannot be quantified. Eminent people from all over the world are making a beeline for the Kochi Biennale, which has acquired a pride of place in their tour itinerary,” he says.
While the Biennale Foundation was able to raise about Rs 7 crore by way of patronage, the online fundraising campaign came a cropper.
“We are happy that the government is supporting us, but we recently requested the ministers concerned to hike the government’s share from Rs 9 crore to Rs 12 crore in view of the huge shortage of funds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Besides what they have given us until now, we would now need at least Rs 5 crore to run the show properly till March,” says Mr. Krishnamachari.
While Biennales elsewhere enjoy generous patronage by the city administration, the Corporation of Kochi doesn’t seem to have any plan to support the Biennale, albeit verbally. “The corporation is not in a position to offer any financial assistance to the Biennale,” said Mayor Tony Chammany.