Mysuru: The department of Kannada and culture is planning to invite international artistes for the Mysuru Dasara celebration.About 60% will be local artistes, 20% national-level artistes and the remaining 20% international-level artistes for Dasara cultural events that will be held at different venues, during the 11-day festivities that will be held from Oct 11. It also decided to select artistes on 11 different yardsticks with specific administrative guidelines.This year it decided to give representation for marginal sections of artistes, women, differently abled, different categories of artistes, strict adherence to one artiste, one stage rule and restrictions on artistes who have performed in previous Dasara events.Last year, the state govt spent Rs 2 crore for Dasara cultural events.The Dasara Cultural Events Sub Committee is also making preparations to host a slew of cultural events this year too at different venues, including iconic Mysuru Palace premises, Jaganmohan Palace auditorium, Town Hall, Dufferin Clock Tower premises, Silver Jubilee Clock Tower Circle, Kalamandir, Rangayana, Ganabharathi Veenesheshanna Bhavan, Nada Brahma Sangeetha Sabha and at Sri Srikanteshwara Temple at Nanjangud.Following directions from minister of Kannada and culture Shivaraj Tangadagi, the department officials have also made preparations for the grand success of Dasara cultural events without giving room for any complaints.As announced by chief minister DK Shivakumar, this year, artistes from Kannada film industry are also taking part in Dasara cultural events apart from folk artistes and cultural troupes. The department has also invited applications for selection of artistes and artiste troupes to take part this year. Some troupes also sent applications voluntarily to the Kannada and culture department.As in previous years, the local artistes urged the department of Kannada and culture to give prominence to them along with national and internationally reputed artists, musicians, folk artistes among others.Assistant director of Kannada and culture MD Sudarshan said that the department has requested the Dasara subcommittee for cultural events to screen and select the artists for Dasara cultural events based on specific administrative guidelines.Speaking to TOI, joint director of Kannada and culture Nirmala Mathapathi said that the department has started the preparations for selection of artistes; remuneration will be given to artistes by the department as fixed by the govt for different categories of artistes depending upon their performance in different venues.
