The Bihar government has selected 52 artists for the Bihar Kala Puraskar, an initiative to recognize artistic excellence. The announcement was made at a press conference in Patna, presided over by Minister Motilal Prasad of the Art, Culture, and Youth Department. The event was attended by key officials, including Departmental Secretary Pranav Kumar, and media representatives.
Minister Prasad explained that the Bihar Kala Puraskar aims to honor both established and emerging artists who have made significant contributions to the visual and performing arts at various levels. The awards encompass a wide range of artistic disciplines.
**Three-Year Selection Process**
The awards cover the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, with a total of 52 artists being selected across the following categories:
* 22 Established Artists
* 18 Emerging Artists
* 6 National Awards
* 6 Lifetime Achievement Awards
**Breakdown of Selections:**
* 2022-23: 6 Established, 7 Emerging, 2 National, 2 Lifetime
* 2023-24: 8 Established, 5 Emerging, 2 National, 2 Lifetime
* 2024-25: 8 Established, 5 Emerging, 2 National, 2 Lifetime
**Award Details**
The selected artists will share a total prize money of ₹27,72,000. The award structure is as follows:
* National Award: ₹1,00,000, souvenir, certificate, and angavastra.
* Lifetime Achievement: ₹1,00,000, souvenir, certificate, and angavastra.
* Established Artist: ₹51,000, souvenir, certificate, and angavastra.
* Emerging Artist: ₹25,000, souvenir, certificate, and angavastra.
**Notable Award Winners (2022-23)**
* National Award: Chitra Prasad and Padma Shri Dulari Devi.
* Lifetime Achievement: Anil Bihari and Suman Kumar.
**2023-24 Awardees**
* National Award: Kalpana Patwari and Padma Shri Baua Devi.
* Lifetime Achievement: Padma Shri Nirmala Devi and Bharat Singh Bharti.
**2024-25 Awardees**
* National Award: Ratneshwar Prasad (Performing Arts) and Ashok Kumar Vishwas (Visual Arts).
* Lifetime Achievement: Shivan Paswan (Godna Art) and Bharat Sharma Vyas (Folk Singing).
In addition, 18 other artists from fields such as contemporary art, folk art, theater, classical and folk music, instrumental music, and dance will also be recognized.
**Award Ceremony Date**
The awards ceremony is scheduled for September 24, 2025, Minister Prasad confirmed. He noted that the selection process had been pending and has now been finalized. Departmental Secretary Pranav Kumar revealed that over 150 applications were received, and the selection committee chose artists of high caliber. He also mentioned that the application deadline for the Chief Minister’s Guru-Shishya Parampara scheme might be extended.
**Government’s Support for Artists**
Minister Prasad emphasized the government’s dedication to supporting artists. He stated that the Bihar Kala Puraskar is designed to promote the state’s rich culture and inspire further artistic achievements.