Kerala to get arts, crafts incubator

KOCHI: In what is claimed to be a first in the country, a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) in fine arts and crafts is set to come up at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit at Kalady. The state government has accorded sanction for the incubator, which has so far been the prerogative of engineering colleges, based on a proposal by vice-chancellor Dr M.C. Dileep Kumar. The government has also sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the incubator named ‘Roopakalpana’.

According to the proposal, students with the help of teachers will produce unique arts and craft products which will be taken to the market through different channels including exhibitions and the gallery and sales counters to be set up as part of the project. “In the initial stage, 25 students will be able to earn from the venture, and as far as the varsity is concerned it is a no-profit-no-loss venture, and the beneficiaries will be students and their guides,” Mr Kumar said.

“Terracotta works, wood carvings, sculptures, mural paintings, ceramic works, landscape paintings, glass paintings and textiles with a unique identity that can catch the fancy of people will come out of the centre, and they can conduct research to identify new areas for bringing out new types of products also.” The university painting department head Dr T. G. Jyothilal is the coordinator of the project. Land for setting up a workshop with a built-up area of 3,800 sq ft has already been identified, and machinery will be purchased soon.