Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 411/14

18 DEGREES FESTIVAL 2014

The 2nd Edition of the 18 Degrees Festival, 2014 which is being organized by the Department of Arts & Culture, Government of Meghalaya was today formally inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma at the State Central Library premises, Shillong. The inauguration function was also attended by the Chairperson of the Meghalaya Resource and Employment Generation Council, Mrs. D D Shira, Director of Arts & Culture, Ms. M S War beside others.

In his speech as the chief guest, Dr. Sangma said that this festival emerged all of a sudden through the creative idea that was an offshoot of few friends coming together with him in conceptualizing this particular programme. He further said that the ideas of the festival was to connect with the rest of the world and tell the world with pride that we have such a beautiful place with friends around who’s talents are still untapped, adding that it is basically to create a platform to connect the young generations with a creative minds and all those who have dreams and aspirations to show the world as to how they can be one of the best in different forms of arts, music etc,.

“The festival will create a platform for young friends who would like to unleashed their talents and show to the world that we have a lot of talents”, said Dr. Sangma. He also congratulated the Arts & Culture Department for their hard work in organizing the festival. He further said that the Government ambition is definitely very high and it has always maintain to be optimistic inspite of all adversaries, adding that with that optimism we must move forward and get all our ideas together and look at to how to actually and ultimately thrust them into action.

Dr. Sangma also inform that the Shillong will soon have one of the best infrastructure to host any kind of national and international events and the Government have already sanction for the project which is first of its kind in the whole country. “This project will be call the Shillong International Centre for Performing Art” said Dr. Sangma. He further inform the project will cost at around Rs. 151.33 crore and will be completed by 2018 at an area of 35 acres located near IIM, Mawdiangdiang, Shillong.

Dr. Sangma also urged upon the people of the State to pray for the families and friends affected during the recent flash flood and landslides that hit the State recently, which have left the trail of agony. He further said that it is our responsibility to do a little bit as an individual, we can pray for them which is most importantly we pray for our State that in the future our people is capable of becoming more resilient to these kinds of calamities and the State is capable of preparing all necessary measures to make the community of the State resilient to these kinds of probable calamities.

In three-days festival, workshop on various aspects of film making by Michele Seidman, interactive session with Jayant Kripalani and Michele Seidman, launch of graphic novel ‘The Legend of U Sier Lapalang’, 3 D Chalk Art by Tracy Lee Stum, acrobatic act by teams from Ukraine and Poland, art exhibition, photography exhibition, international fashion show, bike stunt, live music and many more will be the main attractions in the festival. (mipr)