US Mission supports Folklore Museum Preservation Project in Mysuru
The U.S. Mission in India and its implementing partner University of Mysore officially announced the U.S.-funded conservation efforts for the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion Folklore Museum in Mysuru, Karnataka.
A press release said,”This project, funded through the U.S. government’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), supports the conservation of the West Wing of the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion Folklore Museum building and over 6,500 artifacts from across the state of Karnataka. The University of Mysore is partnering with the Deccan Heritage Foundation to lead the restoration and conservation efforts which are expected to be completed by 2025.”
Announcing the AFCP grant to the University of Mysore, U.S. Consul General Chennai Christopher W. Hodges said, “The conservation project at the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion Folklore Museum is yet another testament to America’s friendship and respect for the people of India and its rich cultural heritage. Once completed, I know the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion and Folklore Museum will continue to delight future generations of Indians and international visitors.”
He added, “Widespread community engagement is at the heart of all of our AFCP projects. The U.S. Mission India AFCP grant of $300,000 to the University of Mysore is the second largest AFCP grant awarded in India in the last twenty years. The AFCP project in Mysuru will bring together conservation and museum experts, architects and designers, and skilled craftspeople – all with a shared passion for preserving and protecting India’s cultural heritage in Karnataka.”
N.K. Lokanath, Vice Chancellor, University of Mysore expressed his happiness that the U.S. Consulate had identified the University of Mysore to receive the AFCP award. He said that the “restored Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion Folklore Museum will not only add to the tourist attractions of Mysuru but will serve as a center for research and higher learning for scholars focused on ethnographic traditions of Karnataka.”