Kannagi model inspires civic body to plan more art districts

Speaking at an event organised in Kannagi Nagar, municipal administration minister SP Velumani said that an agreement has been entered with the St+art India Foundation for five years. “Like paintings made on the walls of slum clearance board apartments in Kannagi Nagar, more paintings on public walls and government building walls will be created,” he said.

On Monday, Velumani visited Kannagi Nagar, unveiled a painting, and distributed prizes to the children who participated in art competitions conducted as a part of Kannagi art district project. In total, a group of 10 artists – associated with St+art India Foundation – from various countries are painting the walls for the past few weeks. The civic body has a target to complete painting works on 15 walls in Kannagi Nagar, Ezhil Nagar and Tsunami Nagar, where lakhs of people were shifted to the apartments from slums.

The civic body bears the expenses and had already spent around Rs. 40 Lakh to provide travel and accommodation to the artists. “The project is being implemented to create awareness on arts among the residents. Chennai is the first in the State to implement the project and fifth city in the country. The intention is to social upliftment through art forms,” he said.

St+art India Foundation is conducting artistic events in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Goa. When asked a Chennai Corporation official, he said that the agreement is for five years and there is a possibility of painting Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board apartment walls in Semmancheri and other settlements.

The project is supported by Asian Paints and coordinated by Chennai Smart City Limited (CSCL), an SPV to implement Smart City Mission.