Mamata says WB govt will encourage talent

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that her government will continue to encourage talent in art, culture and fine arts and felicitate outstanding ones.

"My government will always stand beside those who excel in performing arts, culture, fine arts and allied areas, and felicitate those performing excellently within our limited resources," Banerjee said inaugurating the West Bengal Fine Art Festival 2014 at the Academy of Fine Arts here.

She said that the state government would take care of artistes facing financial constraints.

The chief minister felicitated ten eminent personalities in fine arts for their outstanding performance.

Lifetime Achievement award was given to Dhirendra Nath Brahma, while 'Shilpi Mahasamman' award was given to four eminent artists Robin Mondal, Kartik Pyne, Prakash Karmakar and Uma Siddhanta.

'Shilpi Samman' was given to Sunil De, Wasim Kapoor, Ashok Bhowmik and Arun Kumar Chakraborty.

The Art Critic's award went to Soumendra Nath Banerjee.

Pashimbanga Charukala Parshad President Jogen Chowdhury said that the festival would continue till February 23.