The presentation ceremony of the Goa State Cultural Awards of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa was held on January 4, 2015 at the Institute Menezes Braganza Hall in Panjim. Eminent Indian film director and script writer Shyam Benegal was Chief Guest at the event. Every year, the Directorate of Art and Culture presents the State Cultural Award to eminent Goan personalities who have made extraordinary contributions in their respective fields of Art and Culture and have dedicated their life for the promotion and preservation of the same, thereby setting an example for the youth in the state.
This year, the Department honoured 15 eminent personalities with the prestigious Goa State Cultural Award for the year 2013-14 for their contribution and achievements in their respective art forms like Music Drama/Tiatr, Folk Art, Bhajan, Kirtan, Craft, Literature, Painting, etc.
Recipients of the Goa State Cultural Award 2013-14 include Prabhakar Vithal Gaonkar for his contribution to Theatre (Drama), Late Balwant
Baburao Shirgaonkar in Theatre (Drama), Antonette Mendes in Theatre (Tiatr), Josefina Dias in Theatre (Tiatr), Lourenco Fernandes in Theatre (Tiatr), N Shivdas in Literature, Fr Vasco Rego in Literature, Jess Fernandes in Literature, Maria Aurora Couto in Literature, Vithal Khandolkar in Music, Chandrakant Vernekar in Music, Narayan Arjun Haldankar in Bhajan, Ajit Paiginkar in Folk Art, Mahendra Chodankar, in Fine Art and Shivanand Khedekar in Fine Art.
The individual award comprised of a cash of Rs 50,000, a certificate, Shrifal, Nataraj Replica and Shawl. The Best Cultural Institution Award for the year 2013-14 was conferred on Shree Naguesh Mahalaxmi Prasadik Natyasamaj, Ponda. The award consisted of a Memento and cash purse of Rs One Lakh. Shree Naguesh Mahalaxmi Prasadik Natyasamaj, Ponda was founded in 1947 and has performed dramas in major festivals and special days such as Konkani Parishad, Konkani Sammelan, Parab Sammelan, Opinion Poll etc. Ajit Kerkar received the
award on behalf of the institution.
