Venkatappa Art Gallery: Renovation
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| Rendered drawing only for representation |
Despite the excitement surrounding the gallery’s reopening on June 12, controversy has emerged over the alleged ‘exclusion of the local art community’ from the event. While government officials and corporate representatives are expected to attend, many artists—who have long advocated for the gallery’s preservation—have reportedly been left out of the celebrations.
This exclusion has sparked discontent among Bengaluru’s artistic circles as evident through a number of social media posts. It must be pointed out that the gallery’s revival was largely driven by years of lobbying from several artists, who were diligent about keeping it from falling into private hands.
Future of Artistic Spaces
In general, it is important to include artists at every stage to ensure their involvement in shaping cultural institutions, and to avoid a precedent for a ‘top-down management of artistic spaces’, which could reduce opportunities for grassroots engagement.Artists and cultural advocates are now calling for greater transparency and inclusivity in the gallery’s future programming. While the renovation is a welcome development, its success will ultimately depend on how well it serves the artistic community it was built for.
As Bengaluru’s art scene continues to evolve, the Venkatappa Art Gallery stands at a crossroads—will it remain a true home for artists, or become a polished but detached institution? The answer lies in how its custodians respond to the voices of those who have long fought for its survival.
What are your thoughts and suggestions on this topic?
Note: the article was updated on Jun 11
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