A press conference in Patna, chaired by Minister Motilal Prasad, announced the recipients of the Bihar Kala Puraskar. The awards, organized by the Art, Culture, and Youth Department, recognize excellence in the arts. Departmental Secretary Pranav Kumar and other officials and media personnel were present.
Minister Prasad explained the aim of the awards is to celebrate established and emerging artists who have made significant contributions to both visual and performing arts at the state, national, and international levels.
**Selection for Three Financial Years**
A total of 52 artists have been selected for the years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, across several categories:
* 22 Established Artists
* 18 Emerging Artists
* 6 National Awards
* 6 Lifetime Achievement Awards
**Breakdown by Year:**
* 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
**Awards and Recognition**
The selected artists will receive a total of ₹27,72,000 in prize money. Award details are as follows:
* National Award: ₹1,00,000, a memento, certificate, and traditional attire (angavastra).
* Lifetime Achievement Award: ₹1,00,000, a memento, certificate, and angavastra.
* Established Artist Award: ₹51,000, a memento, certificate, and angavastra.
* Emerging Artist Award: ₹25,000, a memento, certificate, and angavastra.
**Key Winners from 2022-23:**
* National Award: Chitra Prasad and Padma Shri Dulari Devi.
* Lifetime Achievement: Anil Bihari and Suman Kumar.
**Winners for 2023-24:**
* National Award: Kalpana Patwari and Padma Shri Baua Devi.
* Lifetime Achievement: Padma Shri Nirmala Devi and Bharat Singh Bharti.
**Winners for 2024-25:**
* 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 various fields including contemporary art, folk art, theatre, classical and folk music, instrumental music, and dance will also be honored.
**Upcoming Award Ceremony**
The award ceremony will be held on September 24, 2025, according to Minister Prasad. He also mentioned the lengthy selection process had concluded. Departmental Secretary Pranav Kumar revealed that over 150 applications were submitted, and the selected artists were of the highest quality. The application deadline for the Chief Minister Guru-Shishya Parampara scheme may be extended.
**Government’s Stance**
Minister Prasad stated that the Bihar government is committed to recognizing and promoting the artists of the state. He concluded that the Bihar Kala Puraskar is an initiative to enrich the cultural heritage of Bihar and encourage artistic development.