File picture of artists painting during an exhibition at the Kalakshetra

Guwahati, Oct. 29: Call it art for heart?s sake. Come November 28, a bevy of artists from the seven states of the Northeast and Sikkim will congregate at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra to spread the message of regional bonding and universal brotherhood through their art.

An assortment of paintings, graphics, drawings and sculptures by both eminent artists and budding talents will be on view at the Northeast art contest-cum-exhibition, organised jointly by Lalit Kala Academy of Delhi and Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra.

?All the northeastern states have a rich legacy of traditional art and craft. The meeting will provide the artists a common platform to exhibit their talents and share with each other knowledge about the art forms they specialise in,? an official of the Kalakshetra said.

Accolades will not be far behind, as awards have been announced for works of merit.

?We have requested the directorate of cultural affairs of all the states to invite artists interested in participating in the contest-cum-exhibition. The last date for submission of forms is November 15. The winners will be felicitated with prize money,? the official said.

?We will try to discover hidden talents and later showcase the works of the artists at national fora. We are trying to encourage young budding artists who are on the lookout for a proper foundation to build a career in art,? the official added.

Jabin Ghosh Dastidar, principal of the Government College of Art and Crafts, Guwahati, and a member of the Kalakshetra, said: ?Any kind of exhibition is a footage for upcoming artists.?

He stressed on the need to hold exhibitions from various parts of the country to get a ?feel of ethnic India?. He said such exhibitions would enable art critics and veteran artists to be cognisant of the new concepts and ideas churned out by young minds.

Dastidar said many artists from Assam feel that they do not get enough exposure because of lack of proper platforms. ?There?s a ray of hope for them now as the State Art Gallery, closed since 1999, is all set to get a new lease of life. The gallery will be of international standards with central air-conditioning and state-of-the-art lighting arrangements,? he said.

Welcoming the modern facilities and communication ease of the new gallery, Rinky Das, an artist, said: ?The Lalit Kala Bhawan at the Kalakshetra has space for art gallery, exhibitions and workshops, but the venue is out of the way and communication is a major problem.?