Arts school gets a new life

YANGON Ministry of Culture plans to turn the century-old Chin Tsong Palace on Yangon’s Kabar Aye Pagoda Road into a cultural centre.
The palace is currently home to a Ministry of Culture fine arts school.
The ministry’s Fine Arts School Department deputy director, U Htay Lwin, told local media that the building will be reopened as a cultural centre.
“This building has been maintained under our ministry as one of the heritage buildings. What we are trying to do is to turn it into a cultural centre where visitors can purchase all kinds of arts and crafts in one place.”
inside no 4He said the “one-stop culture centre” will draw locals and tourists alike, and would be used to display and promote the arts, including hosting traditional cultural demonstrations and puppet shows in a small venue next to the building.
“The mini-theatre can accommodate 100 people and is available for rent to interested show organisers too,” he said.
The ground floor will be rented out for displays of painting, sculptures, handicrafts and jewellery.
The five-storey Chin Tsong Palace is a striking example of elaborate Chinese architecture. It was named after the Chinese immigrant, businessman, Lim Chin Tsong, who built it between 1915 and 1919 as his residence at a cost of around 2.2 million rupees.
Under Japanese rule, 1941 to 1945, the building housed the All Burma Broadcasting Station and in 1951 was transformed into Kanbawza Yeiktha hotel. The Ministry of Culture later took over the top floors, which offer a spectacular 360-degree view of the city, including landmarks such as Shwedagon Pagoda and Inya Lake.

sourced:ttrweekly.com