KOCHI: CPM politburo member M.A. Baby has called for government funding for signature events like Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Such events should be “insulated from financial calamities like the current economic problems facing the state”, he said.
“It is well known that the government is facing a financial crisis. But that should not impact an important event like the biennale,” he said while taking a tour of the biennale venue to see the work in progress.
Baby was instrumental in allocating the first tranche of financial assistance to Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) to organise the first edition of the event in 2012 when he was the culture minister in the state.
KV Thomas MP from Ernakulam, who was also given a tour of the biennale venue by the organisers said that the second edition of the event would be a resounding success like the first edition.
Describing Kochi Biennale as the “face of the cultural heritage of both Kerala and India”, Thomas said that it had emerged as the “country’s biggest contemporary art event”.
“The second edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale will receive even more support from the common people than the first edition,” he said.
The countdown for the 108-day extravaganza beginning December 12 had begun with various cultural events in the city.
As a tribute to the rich tradition of performing arts of the state and the country, KBF will hold a series of events under Bharateeyam programme in the coming days.
As part of the inaugural event of Bharateeyam, a three-day choreography and Kathakali performance will be held from Dec 8-11.
