Mangaluru : As many as 15 artists from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod (Kerala) took part in a five-day art camp that commenced on Wednesday at the picturesque Dr. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama. This art camp is being held as a prelude to “Sangama Sambhrama”, a two-day State-level conference of 17 academies starting on July 25.

While there is no restriction on what the artists can choose to paint, the camp has an underlying theme — to produce art that reflects the cultural ethos of the region.

“I am yet to decide on the art form I am coming out with,” said Ramesh Rao, a senior artist from Udupi, who is attending the camp. “But, it will certainly be the one that reflects the rich cultural diversity of this region,” he added.

Participants in the camp include Ganesh Somayaji, N.S. Pattar, Purushottam Adve, Jeevan D. Salian, Anil Devadiga, Vishwas M. from Kasaragod, Sapna Naronha, Santos Andrade, Kandan G., Harish Kodialbail, Rajendra Kedige, Wilson J.P. D’Souza, P.N. Acharya, Ramesh Terdal and Ravi M.R.

At the end of the camp, each artist will display two art forms each, which will be distributed among the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and the Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, which are hosting the State-level conference.

Inaugurating the five-day art camp — the first to be organised by the Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy in Dakshina Kannada — on Wednesday, academy chairman M.S. Murthy said that the State government was giving more impetus to art and culture and was spending around Rs. 300 crore per year to promote art. “Therefore, we (artists) should be far more responsible in our work,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim stressed on having more programmes related to art, culture and sports. “With involvement in such activities, people will not be involved in negative acts,” he added. Moreover, such cultural activities send a positive message to various parts of the country that helps in bringing more investment for developing the region.

Chairman of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy Janaki Brahmavara, chairman of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Roy Castelino and chairman of Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy B.A. Mohammed Haneef participated in the function.