http://www.deccanherald.com/content/213272/kerala-artists-oppose-international-festival.html

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Kerala artists oppose international festival

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 20, DHNS

Around 25 leading artists from the state, including Kanai Kunhuraman and C L Porinjukkutty, alleged at a press conference here on Tuesday that  norms are being violated to facilitate the event. No Kerala-based artist will be participating in the event, they said. The Rs 75-crore government aid promised for the event organised by a private trust violates all norms. The dissidents demanded a government probe into the issue.

The festival, initiated jointly by the Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation and Muziris Heritage Foundation, with government aid, will be held at different venues in Kochi and Muziris, around 25 km from Kochi.

The festival, with Mumbai-based artist Bose Krishnamachari as the director, would witness presentation of artworks, seminars, educational programmes and launch of several books.
Voicing their opposition, the artists said the Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy should have been
entrusted with the responsibility of organising the festival.

Highlighting that the previous LDF government had already disbursed Rs 5 crore for the event, the artists urged the present state government to refrain from releasing further funds. Incidentally, the present UDF government had promised to release Rs 5 crore more.
The festival will be the biggest arts scam in the country, they said.