Bhubaneswar: Delegates from the Embassy of France in India's cultural council held with state government officials on Thursday and announced setting up of cultural desks in both the city and Paris.
The desks will co-ordinate with various social groups, organisaitons and educational institutions to facilitate culture exchange programmes in France and Odisha.
The delegates are on a two-day visit of Odisha with the purpose of working in education, art and cultural in collaboration with the government.
Bertrand De Hartingh, counsellor for cooperation and cultural affairs in the embassy, said: "The desks will be set up at the same time and would promote cultural exchange in heritage, dance, art and music among others."
"Focus will also be on hosting workshops and events that promote cultural exchange," said the state government's culture secretary Manoranjan Panigrahy.
Alice Brunot, cultural attaché, visited the heritage village of Raghurajpur and interacted with the artisans. The French authorities also plan to collaborate with Raghurajpur International Art and Crafts Exchange, a cultural organisation that works at the village, and engage them in cultural exchange programmes.
The group hosts more than 20 international artists every year where thy learn the crafts such as pattachitra, palm leaf carving, stone and wood carving and painting the traditional Ganjapa playing cards that flourish at the village.
"I am happy to see all these activities at Raghurajpur. I interacted with all the artisans and we are hopeful of an exchange programme that could be done involving French artists," said Alice.
"We plan to connect the organisation with more French artists so the residency programme could reach more people."
The heritage village and the popular artwork amazed Alice. "It is interesting to see how the local artisans have developed after associating with foreign artists and are experimenting with traditional artworks."
"This will be an opportunity for the international artists and local craftsmen to communicate with each other through the art. Such events will enhance the visibility of Odisha crafts," said the group's president Shashank Mohapatra.
