Pune: The central government has approved to set up a regional centre of the National Academy of Art (Lalit Kala Academi) at Pimpri-Chinchwad. The NAA is an autonomous organisation of the central government established to promote and propagate understanding on Indian art in and outside the country.

The regional centre work will be started after the state government and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) sign an agreement. Uttam Pacharne, President of NAA in Delhi said, “We were making efforts for the last four decades to start a regional centre of the Academy in Maharashtra. Announcements were made several times but it did not translate into action. But now the location for the regional centre has been finalised and soon the work on this project will start.”

The location finalised for the NAA regional centre is the 15 acres of land belonging to Bal Vikas Kendra in Pimpri-Chinchwad. The PCMC will do the formalities and transfer the land possession to the central government. The central government would then start work on the project. The central government and state government will be investing 15 crore rupees for the centre,” Pacharne said.

Facilities at the proposed NAA Regional Centre:

• Art gallery for exhibitions

• Studio for research

• Gallery for art based on new technology with laser

• Scholarships and workshops for art students

• Museum of artwork by senior artists

• Accommodation for artists

• Exhibition on the history of art in Maharashtra

Artists have also welcomed the move saying that the regional centre would benefit them. The NAA runs several programs, initiatives for artists, however the local artists were unable to take advantage of them till date. With the regional centre starting, the local artists, especially from the rural areas, would benefit a lot.