Database for folk artistes in TN: Official

Tiruchirapalli, Aug 22: The Art and Culture Department of Tamil Nadu Government has decided to prepare a database of all folk artistes being enrolled with the Folk Artistes Welfare Board and post it on the internet, State Tourism and Culture Secretary V Irai Anbu said.

He said there was encouraging feedback from foreign tourists at the dance festival in Mahabalipuram where classical and folk art forms were given equal importance.

Mr Irai Anbu also stressed on the importance of folk artistes and said the official establishment was reaching out to them for enhancing their quality of life by making an allocation of Rs one crore for the Board.

The database will also help in resurrecting art forms that were nearing extinction, he said.

Launching the enrolment exercise here yesterday, Mr Irai Anbu said about 10,000 folk artistes, practising 100 art forms listed in a special government order, have registered as members with the Welfare Board so far.

Registration with the Welfare Board entitled the artistes to receive various benefits and ensure the art forms were preserved for posterity.

UNI