HYDERABAD: Artists and art lovers might get a new space for art and cultural activities in the middle of the city with University of Hyderabad authorities deciding to develop the university’s Golden Threshold building into a ‘Heritage Cultural Hub’.
The building at Nampally was bequeathed by freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu’s family to the university and it was here that varsity started its academic activities during 1974-1975.
The Golden Threshold is the title of a book of collection of poems, written by Sarojini Naidu.
Honouring her, the university named its Fine Arts and Communication School as Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication.
The university authorities said in a press release that providing a cultural hub at the city centre would provide an alternative platform for artists in Telangana.
The plan to provide space for art exhibitions, a small museum of performing arts and facilitation of performances was announced at the Nataraja Ramakrishna (NRK) Memorial Lecture held recently at the university.
According to pro vice-chancellor-2 Prof BP Sanjay, Golden Threshold currently houses the Centre for Distance Education, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, an auditorium and has spaces for other forms of academic activities.
“The general idea is that there could be a space for art and creative expression,” he said.
“As part of social and cultural responsibility, the university plans to renovate Golden Threshold to facilitate several cultural activities on its city campus on a regular basis.”
“The university intends to promote arts and culture through this cultural hub.”
Prof Sanjay said they would seek support from agencies, including government’s, to develop Golden Threshold into a heritage and cultural hub.