The artists and the dodo were honoured this Wednesday, October 6 at the Museum of Natural History in Port-Louis. Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth was present at the Natural History Museum for the inauguration of the exhibition on contemporary art and the launch of this website of the national art gallery.
On this occasion, Pravind Jugnauth recalled the historical image of the museum itself. One of the oldest museums in Mauritius, the Natural History Museum is entering the digital age with the application of the latest augmented reality technology. The Prime Minister attended this contemporary art opening, and the unveiling of an application showing life-size animated Dodos at the Natural History Museum, Port Louis. He also launched the website of the National Art Gallery.
The Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, pointed out that eight support schemes for artists in various fields of expression have been put in place by the government. The National Arts Fund will contribute Rs 6.5 million while the Mauritius Tourism and Promotion Authority (MTPA) will contribute Rs 2.5 million.
These aid plans are intended for artists who have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Exceptional measures will therefore be put in place according to Pravind Jugnauth.
“This museum connects tradition and modernity,” said the Prime Minister. Opened in 1842, it was known as the Garden Museum of Modern Art in Africa. Highlighting mainly the richness of the marine fauna, the museum also represents a collection of birds of the Mascarene Islands. The museum also provides visitors with a documentation and exchange centre dedicated to the natural history of the Mascarene Islands.
Speaking of new technologies, the museum is able to offer an augmented reality device to show a family of DODO in their natural habitat. “This innovation greatly enriches the experience of visitors,” he added.
In his speech, the PM pointed out that the National Art Gallery has amassed a national collection of about 100 works acquired through donations and purchases since its inception. For its first acquisition program, the gallery has benefited from Rs 1,180,000 for the purchase of 29 new works by Mauritian artists. An additional envelope of one million rupees was made available to the Gallery during the current fiscal year. Rs 8 million have been allocated for the rehabilitation of the former military hospital for the national art gallery which will start very soon.
For his part, Avinash Teeluck, Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, said that nearly Rs 50 million has been disbursed for artists, for the period from June 2020 to mid-2021.
