Guwahati: The permanent building of the city-based Gauhati Artists' Guild, which was built on a plot of land allotted by the state government, was formally inaugurated by Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi here on Wednesday evening.

Renowned artist Pulak Gogoi, prominent writer Nirupama Borgohain and a host of other dignitaries were present at the event.

To celebrate the occasion, which also marked the 46th anniversary of the guild, students from the Government College of Art and Craft presented an exhibition of various types of hand-crafted masks at the event made by the students themselves.

Masks depicting various gods and goddesses, famous personalities and cultural icons were part of the exhibition.

Mukhi hailed the organisation as a pioneer and forerunner in the field of art and culture in the Northeast and acknowledged its efforts in promoting northeastern art and culture to the rest of the world since the past 46 years.

"Gauhati Artists' Guild has been an ardent exponent of art and culture and I see the inauguration of their permanent building today as the next step in their growth and evolution," Mukhi said.

"I sincerely hope that getting its own exclusive building will enable the guild to transcend all boundaries and soar to even greater heights, thus becoming a perfect patron of art and culture of the Northeast," he added.

At present, the guild has over 75 practising artists as its members. The new building, named Dream Art Complex, is situated near Chandmari flyover in the city, boasts two art galleries, a library, separate conference halls and board rooms with provisions for ICT-enabled infrastructure, promoting art education amongst the growing generations, through regular children art courses and condensed art courses.