The plan for setting up art galleries at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram airports is under the consideration of the government, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation K C Venugopal said here on Sunday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the art gallery at Nedumbassery airport -- a first in the state.
“If Kerala Lalithakala Akademi demands, we will consider opening similar facilities at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode airports,” the Minister said.
“The internationally-acclaimed artistic excellence of Kerala is a major tourist attraction. These art galleries will be a perfect venue for aspiring artists,” he added. The art gallery will feature major works by 30 artists who have won state Academy awards.
As part of the inauguration, the major works will be available between the fixed price range of `30,000 and`40,000 this month. Separate discounts will be provided to the group or establishment that buys the maximum number of paintings.
Paintings by young artists of Kerala scenery will be available at the gallery for a price of `5,000. Prints of famous works by Raja Ravi Varma and K C S Panikker are available at the gallery for `350.
The inaugural function was presided over by Anwar Sadath MLA.
K P Dhanapalan MP was the chief guest.
The first sale of the art gallery was inaugurated by Dhanapalan by handing over a portrait to CIAL managing director V J Kurien.
District panchayat president Eldhose Kunnappilly, Parakkadavu block panchayat president M K Shaji and Nedumbassery gram panchayat president P Y Varghese were also present.