SHILLONG, Feb 27: After the unveiling of the refurbished Soso Tham auditorium here recently, plans are in the making for the revamp of the district auditoriums in Jowai and Tura in West Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills respectively.
“We are targeting to complete refurbishing of the auditorium in Jowai and Tura within this year. It will be a great thing if we can refurbish the auditoriums in at least three big district headquarters,” Principal Secretary of Arts and Culture department, FR Kharkongor, said.
He said that the Jowai and Tura auditoriums are at various stages of improvement.
Replying to a query, Kharkongor said that there are also plans to improve auditoriums in other districts.
Stating that a team of senior officers are making the assessment, he said that steps will be taken to improve the different auditoriums accordingly. He went n to point out that some auditoriums will require more improvement and some lesser.
On the sidelines, Kharkongor stated that the Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture (SICPAC) at Mawkasiang, New Shillong Township, is being established to set up new benchmark as a venue for performing arts and for conferences.
He informed that the main units at SIPAC include the multipurpose theatre which will have a capacity of 1,700, whereas the black box and little box theatres will have 500 seating capacity each.
According to him, the centre will be utilised for film exhibition, performances and conferences. “There will also be an open air theatre,” the principal secretary said.
On the status of the project, Kharkongor said that the work is nearly 95 per cent complete in terms of construction, adding that touch-ups such as lighting and sound are still under way.