Arundhuti Bhattacharya, chairman, State Bank of India on Thursday inaugurated a museum to showcase various crafts of Bengal at the Alipore branch.
This is for the first time when SBI opened a museum in any of its branches to familiarise the customers with various arts that are available in Bengal.
Partha Pratim Sengupta, chief general manager, Bengal circle, was present at the function. The Alipore branch has been redesigned to house the museum.
The world famous patachitra of Kalighat, dokra of Bankura, clay dolls of Krishnanagar, wood-cut craft of Shantiniketan and the masks of chau dance are on display. Attempts have been made to exhibit all folk arts that are available in the state. As SBI has its branches all over the state and gives financial assistance to the artisans in many districts, it will not be difficult to bring their products and display them. Though initially the museum will be opened during the banking hours and only for the customers, later it might be thrown open to public.
State textile minister Swapan Debnath lauded the efforts of SBI and said it would help people to know about the rich traditional art forms of Bengal. Through museums, the works of the artisans can be popularised.