The art scene in Andhra Pradesh is all set to get a big boost with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) coming up with a sprawling Art Centre along with two auditoriums and conference halls at Saligramapuram near the National Highway 16. To be developed at a cost of Rs 15.72 crore, the project will be the first of its kind in the State.
It will house an art centre with art galleries, workshop space and training halls at the cellar floor spread across 1,642 sq. meter area.
The ground floor will have an auditorium with 370 seating capacity, conference halls, food court while the remaining two floors will have another auditorium with a seating capacity of 205 and a conference hall and space for other services.
“The total site area is 6,335 sq metres out of which the built-up area is 4,321 sq. meters. The work order was issued in July last year and is expected to be completed by January 2018,” T. Venugopal, secretary of VPT, told The Hindu . The art centre will provide a thriving space for the best of the established and emerging artists across the country to get together and work.
With the market for art in Andhra Pradesh far from brisk, the art centre is expected to give a push in creating awareness for contemporary art and also provide exposure to various art practices that are going through a revolving door of rapid transition.
This transition in art is reflected in the works of many artists in AP, particularly Visakhapatnam, a city that boasts of several prominent names that figure in the national and international art arena and a university that has nurtured many artistic talents. However, lack of sustained movement to create a culture of art and spaces like a dedicated art gallery to showcase art works have driven the artists to go beyond the city in their creative pursuits.
Artists feel that the Art Centre will not only fill up the void in the art space, but the state-of-the-art infrastructure and unique concept will also help in making AP the centre of artistic activities.
Speaking about the upcoming art centre, artist and faculty of the Department of Fine Arts, Andhra University, Prof. Ravi Shankar Patnaik said: “The art centre will be a space where established and emerging artists can come and spend time to work. It will provide a big exposure to the people in understanding contemporary art by interacting with artists. Unlike galleries, where only works of artists are showcased, this art centre will have an active space for art workshop. I have also proposed to VPT to have couple of lodging rooms for visiting artists.”
