The Bihar government is set to honor 52 artists with the prestigious Bihar Kala Puraskar. The announcement was made during a press conference in Patna, presided over by Minister Motilal Prasad from the Art, Culture, and Youth Department. The event was attended by key officials, including the Departmental Secretary Pranav Kumar, and various media representatives.
The Bihar Kala Puraskar aims to recognize the outstanding contributions of artists in the fields of visual and performing arts at state, national, and international levels. The awards celebrate both established and emerging talents.
**Selection for Three Fiscal Years**
The awards encompass the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, with artists selected across several categories:
* 22 Established Artists
* 18 Emerging Artists
* 6 National Awards
* 6 Lifetime Achievement Awards
**Detailed Selection Breakdown:**
* 2022-23: 6 Established, 7 Emerging, 2 National, 2 Lifetime
* 2023-24: 8 Established, 5 Emerging, 2 National, 2 Lifetime
* 2024-25: 8 Established, 5 Emerging, 2 National, 2 Lifetime
**Award Details and Prizes**
The selected artists will share a total of ₹27,72,000 in prize money. Each award comes with a monetary prize and commemorative items:
* National Award: ₹1,00,000, a souvenir, a certificate, and an angavastra.
* Lifetime Achievement Award: ₹1,00,000, a souvenir, a certificate, and an angavastra.
* Established Artist Award: ₹51,000, a souvenir, a certificate, and an angavastra.
* Emerging Artist Award: ₹25,000, a souvenir, a certificate, and an angavastra.
**Key Awardees (2022-23):**
* National Award: Chitra Prasad and Padma Shri Dulari Devi
* Lifetime Achievement: Anil Bihari and Suman Kumar
**Awardees (2023-24):**
* National Award: Kalpana Patwari and Padma Shri Baua Devi
* Lifetime Achievement: Padma Shri Nirmala Devi and Bharat Singh Bharti
**Awardees (2024-25):**
* National Award: Ratneshwar Prasad (Performing Arts) and Ashok Kumar Vishwas (Visual Arts)
* Lifetime Achievement: Shivan Paswan (Godna Art) and Bharat Sharma Vyas (Folk Singing)
In addition to these, 18 other artists from a range of disciplines, including contemporary art, folk art, theatre, classical and folk music, instrumental music, and dance, will also be recognized.
**Award Ceremony Details**
The award ceremony is scheduled for September 24, 2025. The Minister stated the selection process was completed. Secretary Pranav Kumar said over 150 applications were received, and artists of high caliber were selected. The Chief Minister Guru-Shishya Parampara scheme’s application deadline may be extended.
**Government’s Commitment**
The government is committed to recognizing, honoring, and encouraging artists in Bihar, according to Minister Prasad. He emphasized that the Bihar Kala Puraskar celebrates the cultural heritage and encourages artistic endeavors within the state.