A meeting organised by Telugu World Artist’s Art Association (TWAAS) has urged the State government to revive the Lalita Kala Akademy to promote fine arts.
TWAAS also gave away Ugadi puraskarams-2014 to eminent artists here on Sunday.
Addressing the gathering, speakers recalled that the Lalita Kala Akademy was disbanded with a stroke of a pen by the then Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao in 80s. The TDP government promoted Telugu University by merging Akademies such as Sangeeta, Nataka, Sahitya and Lalita Akademies.
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The Lalita Kala Akademy used to serve as a platform to encourage and promote study and research in the fields of creative arts such as painting, sculpture. The Akademy used to accord to accord recognition to artists for outstanding achievements, they said.
Backward Classes and Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra assured the gathering that he would bring the issue to the notice of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and strive for the revival of the Akademy.
“There used to be compulsory craft class when I was in the school. The children were deprived of art classes nowadays,” he said, adding, “The government was contemplating making craft class compulsory. The government was also contemplating filling up 10,500 art teachers’ posts in the state.”
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High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh judge B. Chandra Kumar said that the people fondly remember the ruler who encouraged art and artists. A peep into the history emphasizes this fact. Be it Srikrishna Devaraya or Ashoka. The governments should promote the art and culture, he said.
Eminent artist Thota Vaikuntam and sculptor S. M. Peeran were felicitated befittingly. C.S.N. Patnaik, another eminent sculptor, did not turn up. Vijayawada (East) MLA Gadde Rammohan Rao felicitated them.
Art Critic Lakshmi Venkataraman, Karnataka Lalitakala Akademy ex president C.S. Krishna Setty, eminent artist S. K. Rajavelu, Andhra University Fine arts department Head Sistla Srinivas, artist Dr. R. Machiraju, Association general secretary K. Balayogi and Vijay Kumar spoke.