Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday launched the ‘Himachal Artists Web Portal’ to promote the budding artists of the State who want to pursue the profession in Shimla. The web portal will provide the entire details of the creations of an artist  besides the details of the artists along with contact numbers.

While speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister congratulated the initiative of Art, language and Culture Department to organise the Art Festival in Shimla that shows the knack of bringing out fluidity of form on the canvas by the budding artists. 

The ten national fame artists who participated in the fest also gave tips to the children. As many as 170 participants of different age groups got registered since Friday besides over 20 students from department of visual arts of Himachal Pradesh University.

Virbhadra Singh said that the paintings exhibited during the fest were of high standard and such an event should be made an annual affair during summers and should also be made popular so that the budding artists should get inspiration and learn from the professionals.

He said that the artists could also be honoured and invited every year to participate in the event. “I think there is no other better form than paintings, to pour out the thoughts of one’s subtle mind,” he said.  

The Chief Minister said that the construction work of Jawaharlal Nehru College of Fine Arts near Ghanahatti in Shimla Rural Constituency would be soon completed. “I want that the college of fine arts should be the finest institute, not only of Himachal Pradesh but the country as well,” he said adding that a scholarship scheme had been started for the art courses.

Principal secretary, language, Art and Culture, Anuradha Thakur said that provision had been made to provide scholarship of Rs 3000 and Rs 5000 per month for undergraduate and post graduate courses respectively which would be disbursed once in a year.