THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Guru Gopinath Natanagramam will open centres in all districts of the State. Presenting the annual budget of the institution here the other day, vice-chairman D Sudarsanan said that the centres will offer training in Keralanatanam and other dance forms. The national dance museum will be set up at Natanagramam this year itself. The Rs 10-crore project has ` 6-crore Central assistance and Rs 3-crore assistance from the State Government. Around 50 per cent of the civil works have been completed. Costford is executing the works.
The Rs 8-crore budget also moots various innovative projects in the arts and cultural sector. To extend Natyolsavam to all districts and to set up a permanent venue for staging art forms like ballet are among the major suggestions. Assistance from MP, MLA funds will also be sought for implementing the projects. The budget also proposes to start new courses at the Natanagramam. The governing council meeting to pass the budget was presided over by Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph.
The national museum will have all support from the State Government, the Minister said after the budget presentation.
The museum will also have research facilities, he said. K Muraleedharan MLA, governing council members Kavalloor Madhu, R Rajan Gurukkal, V Mohan Thampi, Prof Sundareswari Amma and executive officer T Venukumar spoke at the function.