SHILLONG, Nov 14: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday inaugurated the much-awaited Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture (SICPAC) at Mawkasiang.
Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong, Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai, Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang, and Arts and Culture Commissioner-Secretary Frederick Roy Kharkongor were present during the inauguration.
The SICPAC, under the Department of Arts and Culture, is said to be the first of its kind in the state offering a sophisticated platform for artists and art enthusiasts of Meghalaya.
The centre has a multipurpose theatre with 1,739 seats, a small theatre with 302 sets, a black box theatre with 574 seats, and an open-air theatre with a standing capacity of 15,000 people – all connected through a central block surrounded by water bodies.
The composite structure is aesthetically placed on the hill slopes of Shillong overlooking a valley, officials said.
The SICPAC has been built at a total cost of Rs 151.33 crore with fund support of Rs 136.20 crore from the Central Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources approved by the DoNER Ministry and Rs 15.13 crore from the state.
Speaking at the inaugural programme, Sangma said: “The SICPAC will set a new benchmark as an infrastructure platform for performing arts in the national and international arena.
The facility will serve as the venue for mega cultural events, host film festivals and particularly showcase the art and crafts from the northeast region.
“As an international convention centre with state-of-the-art amenities, the facility will offer an employable skill development course in art, music, films, television, and multimedia disciplines for the youth of Meghalaya as well as the other northeastern states. A small museum at this facility showcasing the state’s art and craft would be an added tourist attraction.”
A few of the available utilities at SICPAC include a contemporary art gallery, a sky theatre, a special exhibitions space, a VIP enclosure, an auditorium hall with a rotating stage, a VIP banquet hall, a VIP lounge, a VIP restroom, an automated elevators, a tribal museum, a media centre, television and audio-visual studio, a library, a food court and administrative workspace.
The Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation Ltd was appointed as the project management consultant while Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd, a public sector unit, NCC Limited and Skematic Consultants were the stakeholders for the completion of the project.
