STATE ART GALLERY TO GET FACELIFT AFTER 18 YEARS

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is all set to give a facelift to Chitramayee State Gallery of Art, cultural complex building, administrative building and auditorium of department of language & culture at Jubilee Hills with an estimated cost of

`3.04 crore.

The Chitramayee State Gallery of Art at Kavuri Hills, Madhapur, was inaugurated on January

26, 2004. The objective of establishing the State Gallery of Art was to promote, preserve and safeguard the paintings of the region and also to showcase products of rural artisans, particularly handicrafts and handlooms. The gallery has been conducting a large number of programmes and several exhibitions, art camps, workshops for artists and artisans and summer camps for children.

The gallery also has been exploring new avenues by conducting workshops during festivals such as Bonalu and Bathukamma. Also, it has been conducting art melas since 2010 to create awareness among people towards the arts and crafts. However, the gallery is now in a state of neglect. The auditorium next door is marred by broken panes and disuse.

Citing this, the HMDA has invited tenders to renovate the structure. The HMDA authorities said the State Art Gallery would be given a facelift with an estimated cost of

`3.04 crore and the project would be completed in six months. Officials said the HMDA had already invited tenders which would be finalised very soon.

THE GALLERY also has been exploring new avenues by conducting workshops during festivals such as Bonalu and Bathukamma. Also, it has been conducting art melas since 2010 to create awareness among people towards arts and crafts.