Achievements
Performing Arts
The past achievements and activities undertaken by the erstwhile Education Department were the participation of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Cultural troupe at the Apna Utsav, New Delhi in 1986 and the Khasi Cultural troupe in a cultural programme in U.S.S.R. in 1987. After the creation of Arts and Culture Department the department has made innumerable achievements by participating at the Apna Utsav at Bombay in 1989, Fete-de-Pondichery at Pondichery in 1991 and 1995, at the Tea Festival at Darjeeling in 1989, at the Musical Festival at Goa in 1992, at the'Phool Walom Ki Sair' at Delhi in 1993. During Republic Day Celebration at the National Capital, the department has participated in 1993 by presenting a Jaintia dance, in 1994 and 1996 by Wangala dance of the Garo and in 1995 by the Hajong dance. The department has participated the Island & Tourism Festival at Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the South Asian Federation Games at Madras (now Chennai) in December 1995. The Wangala dance of the Garo was presented again at the Republic Day celebration in 1996.
On the occasion of 'Umang Festival', ten disabled children artistes along with three escorts participated at the cultural meet of the disabled children at Shilpgram on November 3-7, 2000. The troupe carried with them the artifacts for exhibition and sale.
Four upcoming painters and two craft persons participated at the 'Spring Festival' organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur and the Arts and Culture Department, Government of Nagaland at the Raj Bhavan, Kohima from February 24-26, 2001. Of the 39 participants representing the seven States of North East, Shri Reginald Ranee from Meghalaya bagged the Second Prize in the painting competition in the abstract category and Shri Solomon Kharir bagged a Special prize.
Recently, our 33(thirty-three) members cultural troupe visited Himachal Pradesh under the scheme Inter State Cultural Exchange Programme sponsored by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi from November 10-17, 2001 and performed their programme at Shimla, Solan, Hamirpur.
Apart from participation outside the State, the Arts and Culture Department organized and hosted innumerable Regional, Zonal and State Programme too. The Tribal Folk Dance Festival of India was hosted in Shillong at Garrison ground where troupes from Karnataka, Assam, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and the hosted State presented rich, colourful cultural dances in 1988. During the same year in 1988 the Russian Ballet Dance was performed at the State Central Library Auditorium, Shillong. In October 1993, a Friendship Festival of North East was held at Nongstoin and Mawkyrwat while the National Integration Camp for school children was organized in 1994 at Nativity School, Mawkyrwat in collaboration with the Indian International Rural Cultural Centre, New Delhi.
A 30(thirty) members cultural troupe from Himachal Pradesh visited Meghalaya under the scheme Inter State Cultural Exchange Programme sponsored by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi from January 11-19, 2001 and performed their dances at Nongpoh, Raj Bhavan, Smit, Laitkynsew, Sohra and Pynursla.
As part of the Festival of Germany in India, the Jazz Rock Concert group led by Frank Nimsgern consisting of 6(six) members visited Meghalaya from February 4-6, 2001 and staged a public performance at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Polo on February 6, 2001 where it was witnessed by the presence of a large crowd.the function was organized in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations , New Delhi.
Recently, a Workshop on Traditional Musical Instrument Making and Traditional Music Playing was organised in collaboration with Centre for Creative Arts NEHU Shillong from January 7 to 19, 2002 at Bijni Complex where a large number of participants hailing from the seven districts of the State have attended the Workshop. This kind of Workshop was organized for the first time in the State.
Fine Arts
Four upcoming painters and two craft persons participated at the 'Spring Festival' organised by the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur and Arts and Culture Department Government of Nagaland at the Raj Bhavan Kohima from February 24 to 26, 2001. Of the 39 participants representing the seven States of North East, Shri Reginald Mark Rani from Meghalaya bagged the Second Prize in the painting competition in the abstract category and Shri Solomon Kharir bagged a Special prize.
The Department participated in the Art Exhibition of North East organised by the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Department of Culture,Government of India and Lalit Kala Akademi, new Delhi. About 24 paintings collected from Shri Benedict Skhemlang Hynniewta, Ms Elizabeth Zarine, Shri Reginald Mark Rani, Shri Solomon Kharir, Shri Pascal Khyriem and Shri Wanphai Nongrum respectively have been exhibited in the Art Exhibition. Four paintings belonging to Shri Reginald Mark Rani and Shri Solomon Kharir respectively have been included in the Art Panorama North East 2001 published by the North east Zone Culture Centre, Dimapur.