Panaji, June 29: Prominent artists and writers in Goa have announced plans for a statewide movement starting July 2, escalating their protest over the restoration of the Kala Academy. This follows their June 17 demand for the resignation of Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, citing alleged misconduct and “sub-standard work” in the refurbishment of the iconic building.
Designed by renowned architect Charles Correa and inaugurated in 1970, the Kala Academy is a premier cultural center in Goa. Concerned about the quality of recent restoration work, artists and writers have formed the “Kala Rakhan Maand Goa (KRMG)” forum to intensify their agitation.
KRMG convener and stage artist Devidas Amonkar announced at a press conference that the movement would be peaceful and constitutionally respectful. “We are starting our movement from July 2 at the Kala Academy. We plan to meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Minister Govind Gaude to demand a white paper on the Kala Academy restoration work,” Amonkar said. “Through this forum, we will conduct a peaceful movement, raise our questions, and expect answers from responsible persons,” he added. Sub-committees will be formed at the taluka level to strengthen the movement.
The renovation of the Kala Academy began in 2021 and it was reopened in November 2023. However, since then, the building has faced numerous issues, including water leakage, a collapsing mirror in the green room, and a false ceiling collapse in April. These incidents have angered the cultural community, leading to a meeting on June 17 where theatre artists and writers expressed their frustration with the government’s handling of the Academy’s problems. Complaints have also been raised about the acoustics in the main auditorium.
