PANAJI
Artistes who have joined forces have decided to intensify their battle of wits with the government and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude in particular over a plethora of issues linked to the controversial renovation of the Kala Academy will hold a protest in front of the iconic building on Tuesday.
Having come together from across the State to form the “Kala Rakhonn Maand” the artistes announced that they intend to escalate their struggle State-wide to restore the Kala Academy.
Addressing the media at a press conference on Saturday, the group headed by Devidas Amonkar as its convenor said they will kick off their campaign with the protest at the site on Tuesday.
The artistes said they are also seeking a joint meeting with Gaude and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to discuss some of the issues they have been facing at the Kala Academy. They also raised a demand that the government come out with a ‘white paper’ tabulating under various heads the extravagant expenditure incurred in the renovation, besides the quality of the work done.
Gaude for the past several weeks has come in for severe condemnation from performing artistes, some of them even demanding his resignation as Minister over allegations of wrong-doing and poor quality work vis-a-vis the renovation contract at the Kala Academy complex.
The iconic structure built in the 1970s was designed by world renowned architect Charles Correa, and over the decades had emerged as the premier art and cultural space of Goa.
