New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam today (Nov 8, 2004) outlined a six-point plan to encourage art and sculpture in the country, especially among the younger generation and creation of a virtual art gallery with a digital walk.

Inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi, he said the summer painting workshops conducted by the NGMA should identify the young talent of different form of arts and introduce them to the master of painting so that their talent could be nurtured and allowed to grow.

NGMA could also consider granting some scholarships for providing assistance to deserving cases.

He told the gathering of eminent artists including A Ramachandran and Satish Gujral that there is need for "creation of a virtual art gallery with a virtual walk through" and a website so that persons from different parts of the country can visit the gallery from their homes and students can draw inspiration from them.

As part of this six-point plan, he said, "The gallery can undertake a project on cost effective preservation and renovation including the application of nano-technology as a means of preserving acquisitions of NGMA," the President said.

He said today's art gallery has a major role to play as a cultural window to the country and "it should provide a platform for creativity and propagate cultural values and promote research towards enriching our ancient technologies".