By IANS,
Kolkata : Kolkata’s Alipore Correctional Home has become India’s first prison to house a permanent art gallery.
The gallery, named Srishtikala Bhavan is a joint effort of the West Bengal government and NGO Flight to Harmony Foundation which has been working with correctional homes in the state.
The 800 sq feet art gallery will also be used to host exhibitions of paintings of inmates along with professional painters. The inaugural exhibition contains 50 paintings by 30 serving convicts of the Alipore Correctional Home.
“The new permanent gallery is sure to boost the morale of the inmates as their work can now be exhibited regularly and is sure to draw art lovers,” said Inspector General of Correctional Services, Ranvir Kumar.
A two day art workshop was also organised at the prison where the convicts and professional artists including Ganesh Haloi, Subrata Ganguly and Robin Mandal participated together.
The gallery was inaugurated Saturday by Correctional Administration Minister Shankar Chakrabarty.
A computer centre was also inaugurated Feb 14 in the prison along with two other correctional homes in the city.