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Arts of Goa
Particular Centre For The Art Form Kala Academy: The Kala Academy of Goa, a state-sponsored autonomous organization, was set up in 1970 to revive and enrich the long traditions of Goan Art and Culture spanning over 2,000 years. The Academy's aims, objects and activities are focused at preserving, fostering and developing dance, drama, music, literature and other arts and also promoting through them cultural unity.

Performers And Artists
Promoting Performing Arts: The Academy runs a faculty of Theatre Art, a faculty of Indian Music and Dance and a faculty of Western Music and Dance. It offers scholarships to talented, promising young artists to study and flourish in these fields.

Characteristics: Goan art colourfully illustrates the unity in diversity of Goan heritage. Various art forms pertaining to different religious beliefs and life styles have mingled into one unique identity that has developed into Goan art. Thus one finds Hindu artists chiseling out Christian images in villages and cities. Goan art, developed around religious requirements, represents this process of assimilation, interdependence and mutual acceptability.

Goa is a proud place for lovers of Christian art as it houses Asia's first Museum of Christian Art at Rachol Seminary in Salcete Taluka. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon, Portugal has provided funds for the restoration of this treasure-trove of Christian art objects.

Performing Arts Centres
Wings Such As Libraries, Galleries
The Library: The Academy library has a treasure of books on Indian and Western art and culture, besides books on aesthetics, criticism, biographies of great personalities in the field of art and films on art and culture. In addition, terracotta items and models of the contemporary artists have enriched the library.

Its Art Gallery is a stupendous success in showcasing the gems of Goan art including various paintings of different media prepared during the annual artist's camp organized by the Academy. The library facility is extended to the staff and students of the Academy, scholars, research workers, art lovers, critics and artists from all over India and outside.

Crafts of Goa
Goa does not lag behind as far as arts and crafts are concerned and has turned out a good competitor in this creative field just like any other art enriched state of India. It can be said that art virtually runs in their blood, which is manifested, in many artistic crafts that have attained commercial proportions. They make excellent souvenirs for tourists. Goan handicrafts include Creative Pottery, Shell Work, Furniture, Brass Work, Bamboo Work, Papier-Mache, etc.

These items are crafted by professional artisans in their ethnic ambience, and also by artisans working at the arts and crafts complex run by the government. They are sold through various handicraft emporia and all major tourist spots.

The art and craft of Goa is the product of the aesthetic blend of Portuguese and Indian cultures. The crafts of the state are intricately beautiful, capturing the fancies of tourists and locals alike. These crafts can be at best described as a mirror of Goa's perennial glory and beauty and they have carved a niche for themselves by winning critical acclaim of the connoisseurs of the art world.

Major Art forms
The major art forms of the state include bamboo craft, woodcarving, brass metals, seashell craft, Papier-Mache, and wooden lacquer ware. Other important crafts of the state include Jute Macrame, Fabric Collage, Plaster of Paris, Crochet and embroidery, fiber and Batik prints, fiber stone carving, Coconut shell carving, metal embossing, silver and imitation jewelry, cotton dolls, soft toys, woolen tapestry, and artistic weaving.

Types of Handicrafts
The major art forms of the state include bamboo craft, woodcarving, brass metals, seashell craft, Papier-Mache, and wooden lacquer ware. Other important crafts of the state include Jute Macrame, Fabric Collage, Plaster of Paris, Crochet and embroidery, fiber and Batik prints, fiber stone carving, Coconut shell carving, metal embossing, silver and imitation jewelry, cotton dolls, soft toys, woolen tapestry, and artistic weaving.

Handicraft Centers
Bamboo craft, pottery and woodwork constitute the major cottage industries of Goa in terms of employment. Bamboo work is majorly done in Bardez, Bicholim, Pernem and Sattari. There are about 500 units employing over 1,000 craftsmen. Saleete, Bicholim, Ponda, Pernem and Sattari are centres of woodwork employing about 200 craftsmen at over 100 units.

Pottery Unita are at Bardez, Bicholim, Canacona, and Sattari employing 150 craftsmen.

Main Centers For Development
GHRSSIDC: The Goa Handicrafts, Rural & Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (GHRSSIDC), a Government of Goa Undertaking, was set up in October 1980. Its main objective is to encourage, promote and market the myriad of Goan handicrafts by making these items available through its various outlets.

Main Centers For Shopping
Goa's Handicrafts Emporia:
Bicholim Pottery Production Centre, D 2/7, Industrial Estate, Bicholim, Goa ? 403 504. Calangute Handicrafts Emporium, Tourist Hostel, Calangute, Goa ? 403 516.
Mapusa Handicrafts Emporium, Tourist Hostel, Mapusa, Goa - 403 507.
Margao Handicrafts Emporium, Tourist Hostel, Margao, Goa ? 403 601.
Panaji Handicrafts Emporium, Tourist Hostel, Panaji, Goa ? 403 301
Handicrafts Emporium, Craft Complex, Neugi Nagar, Rua de Ourem, Panaji, Goa ? 403 301.
Handicrafts Emporium, Interstate Bus Terminus, Kadamba Bus Stand, Panaji, Goa ? 403 301.
Vasco Da Gama Handicrafts Emporium, Goa Airport, Dabolim, Vasco, Goa ? 403 801. Handicrafts Emporium, Tourist Hostel, Swatantra Path, Vasco Da Gama, Goa ? 403 802.