SHILLONG, APR 23: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma laid the foundation stone for Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture (SICPAC) at Mawkasiang on Thursday in the presence of Art and Culture minister Clement Marak, home minister Roshan Warjri, urban affairs minister M. Ampareen Lyngdoh and IPR minister A L Hek.
The project estimated at Rs 151 crores has been sanctioned by the Ministry of DoNER on a 90:10 sharing basis between the centre and the state. The centre would, in the long run, host mega events of music, dance, films and theatre particularly showcasing north east culture, arts and craft and a venue for exchanging cross culture with other states and countries with an open air amphitheatre, performance space, banquet halls, international guest houses and international convention centre with state-of-the-art facilities.
The centre will also house a training centre offering skill development courses in music, art, films, television and multimedia for youth of Meghalaya and other northeast states and a museum showcasing arts and crafts of the region.
The foundation laying ceremony was marked by Khasi, Garo and Jaintia dances from the State Institute of Arts and performances by Aroha Choir and children’s choir, Khmih.
Sangma told the gathering that massive infrastructure, once completed, would be a game changer and open up opportunities for the children with innumerable talents, bringing them at par globally, adding that the centre would make a huge difference in the lives of the people. He was hopeful that the government would be able to complete and dedicate the centre to the people of the state by 2017 mid-year.
“It was a bold decision on the part of the government to invest huge amount of money on this mammoth infrastructure and because of this many good things are going to happen and Shillong is going to be talked about as a destination”, Sangma said.
Sangma also said that in order to ensure that the benefits of this project is realized by all the people of the state, there would be lots of “spokes” that will be linked to this project which is the “heart” and called upon all interested youth and cultural clubs in the state to partner with the government to act as spokes to this centre. He said, “As we embark on this project to develop the sector, we must work further to fulfil the overall vision of the state to brand build Meghalaya as the number one destination.”
Sangma also enlightened the gathering on the background of the project and the number of things that the state had to do to ensure that this centre become a reality and getting the fund sanctioned from DoNER.
Arts & Culture minister Clement Marak said that a new chapter is being created in the history of Meghalaya with the setting up of the SICPAC. The centre which would be one of a kind project would fulfil the art and cultural needs of the region, he said, adding that the timely sanction of funds for the project would ensure it to be one of the best cultural centres in Asia.
Earlier, Arts & Culture principal secretary PW Ingty in his welcome address, said that the centre would be described as a vital long term investment for creating infrastructure that will facilitate expression of creativity and culture in the state and the region.
MTDC chairman, David Nongrum and Director of Arts & Culture Matsiewdor War-Nongbri also spoke on the occasion, while the chief architect of the project, Gudjon Bjarnason of Iceland gave a detailed presentation, saying that nature was a driving force in conception of the building and that it would be at par with International theatres like the Sydney Opera and others.- By Our Reporter
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