The Government of Manipur, through the Department of Art and Culture, has launched the “Chief Ministergi Artistessingi Tengbang” scheme to support the preservation and enrichment of Manipur’s rich cultural heritage. The scheme provides financial assistance to registered cultural groups that train the younger generation and develop new products to enrich traditional art forms. It aims to empower these groups to continue passing on their traditions and innovations to future generations.
Objectives
- Cultural Preservation & Enrichment:
- To support and nurture traditional art forms, music, dance, theatre, visual arts, literature, and other cultural expressions.
- Training and Skill Development:
- To provide financial assistance for training programs that enable cultural groups and individual artists to develop new productions and techniques.
- Empowerment:
- To encourage inter-generational transfer of skills and knowledge within the cultural community.
Benefits
- Financial Assistance:
- Registered cultural groups receive monetary support to conduct training workshops and produce new artistic products.
- Categories of Assistance:
- Category A:
- For registered groups that have been in existence for over 25 years with a minimum of 15 remarkable productions and have participated in 3 or 4 National Festivals and State-Level Programs.
- Applicable to theatres (traditional/modern/shumang leela), dance (classical/folk/tribal), music (Hindustani/Sankirtana/folk/tribal), visual arts (painting/sculpture/graphic), and literature.
- Category B:
- For registered groups with an operational history of between 3 to 25 years.
- Minimum productions required:
- At least 5 remarkable productions for groups above 3 years and below 15 years.
- At least 6-10 remarkable productions for groups above 15 years and below 25 years.
- Applicable to theatres, dance, music, visual arts, and literature.
- Category A:
- Individual Assistance:
- For visual art, research & book publication, and training on instrument or costume making, individual artists or artisans with significant expertise in their respective fields are eligible.
Eligibility Criteria
For Registered Cultural Groups:
- Category A:
- Must be registered for more than 25 years with a minimum of 15 remarkable productions.
- Must have performed in at least 3 or 4 National Festivals and participated in 3 or 4 State-Level Programs.
- Category B:
- Must be registered for between 3 to 25 years with a minimum production requirement (5 productions for groups above 3 years and below 15 years; 6-10 for groups above 15 years and below 25 years).
- General Condition:
- The applicant group should not be receiving any assistance from any other source for the same purpose.
For Individual Artists (Visual Arts, Research & Book Publication, Instrument/Costume Making):
- Must possess adequate knowledge and expertise in their field.
- For Research & Book Publication, projects should focus on Manipuri culture, including translation of old manuscripts or art & culture books into the Manipuri language.
Method of Selection
- A Screening/Selection Committee, constituted by the Government, will evaluate the applications based on the criteria outlined in the scheme guidelines.
Application Process
Offline Process:
- Download Application Form:
- Obtain a printout of the prescribed application form from the scheme guidelines.
- Form Completion:
- Fill in all mandatory fields on the form and attach all required documents (self-attested where specified).
- Submission:
- Submit the completed application form along with a cover letter addressed to the Director (Art & Culture) at the Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur, located at Palace Compound, Imphal.
- The application must be submitted at least one month before the scheduled travel or training event.
- Receipt:
- Obtain an acknowledgment or receipt of the submission from the Directorate office.
Documents Required
- Photograph:
- Passport-sized photograph.
- Identity Proof:
- Aadhaar Card or any valid proof of identity.
- Proof of Address/Domicile:
- Domicile Certificate.
- Detailed Proposal:
- A detailed proposal including an estimated cost for the training/workshop.
- List of Artistes:
- A comprehensive list of participating artists in the group.
- Bank Account Details:
- For individual beneficiaries or for the registered group.
- Financial Records (for Groups):
- Last 3 years’ audited statement of accounts.
- Utilization Certificate:
- For previous grants/financial assistance (if applicable).
- Production Report:
- Detailed report of the remarkable productions, with supporting documents to demonstrate eligibility under the scheme.
- Bio Data or Activities Report:
- For individual artistes, include a bio-data; for groups, an activities report with supporting certificates.
- Registration Certificate:
- Valid registration certificate for the cultural group.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are the objectives of this scheme?
To support cultural groups in preserving and enhancing Manipur’s rich artistic traditions through training and new productions. - What is the eligibility criteria for Category A registered groups?
Groups registered for more than 25 years with a minimum of 15 remarkable productions and participation in 3-4 National Festivals/State Programs. - What is the eligibility criteria for Category B registered groups?
Groups registered for between 3 to 25 years with at least 5 productions (for groups above 3 years and below 15 years) or 6-10 productions (for groups above 15 years and below 25 years). - Which forms of training are provided?
Training is available for various art forms including theatres, dance, music, visual arts, and literature. - Which department manages this scheme?
The Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur. - Are online applications accepted?
No; applications are to be submitted offline. - To whom should the application be addressed?
The application and cover letter should be addressed to the Director (Art & Culture) at the Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur. - What is the address of the Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur?
It is located at the Palace Compound, Imphal. - Is it mandatory to self-attest all required documents?
Yes, unless specified otherwise. - Can I apply if I am above 18 years of age?
Yes; there is no specific age restriction for groups, while individual artist eligibility is based on expertise. - Is this scheme “one family, one benefit”?
No; it is targeted at registered cultural groups and individual artistes based on their professional credentials. - Are there any age-related criteria?
Age criteria are specified only for marriage or other specific schemes; this scheme is based on group performance and production history. - Can a domicile of another state apply?
No; only residents/domiciles of Manipur are eligible. - Are applicants from Scheduled Castes eligible?
Yes; the scheme is open to all cultural groups in Manipur regardless of caste. - Where can I find the scheme guidelines?
The guidelines and application form are available in the scheme documentation provided by the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur.