The Kerala government’s Revised Budget presented by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Friday allocated ₹50 crore for a cultural park in Kozhikode in memory of late writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair.

The initiative is aimed at preserving and promoting Kerala’s cultural and artistic traditions amid concerns over the growing influence of digital culture.

The proposed park will be designed as a multidisciplinary cultural space featuring venues for performances of Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Thullal, Theyyam, Oppana, Mappilappattu, Margamkali and other art forms. Facilities for dance, music, short films and documentaries will also be included.

The project also envisages a cinema complex, a library, an art gallery, a history museum, a literature and language museum, and a facility dedicated to the voices and works of writers and other cultural figures.

Separate spaces for children and senior citizens, along with recreational areas for families, are part of the proposal. The park will also include food courts, bookshops, art supply stores, tourist guest houses and dormitory facilities.

“We are happy that this facility is expected to function as a centre for cultural activity, learning and tourism in the region. It will also highlight the city’s cultural identity,” said a former functionary of the State Library Council. A Cultural and Tourism Trust proposed in the Budget is also expected to support its professional management, he added.