Art, culture and youth affairs Sukahda Pandey addresses a news meet in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Artists in the state will finally have a platform of their own to showcase their work.

The art, culture and youth affairs department will inaugurate an art gallery at the multi-purpose cultural centre of Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir on Tuesday.

“The artists in the state always rued the absence of a gallery, for which they could not organise exhibitions. Keeping this in mind, we decided to open a gallery for them. The gallery will be inaugurated tomorrow,” art, culture and youth affairs minister Sukhada Pandey said on Monday.

“The first of a series of exhibitions, titled Kala Mangal, will be organised on Tuesday and it will be a week-long affair. Art exhibitions will be held at the gallery every month,” the minister added.

The artists can exhibit their paintings and crafts at the gallery. Pandey’s department would felicitate artists who are above 60. An exhibition, Singhavlokan, will also be organised for them once a year.

Besides, two exhibitions would be held every year to showcase paintings, sculptures, photography and other forms of visual art by five senior artists (aged above 40). Those below 40 would also get an opportunity to display their work. The minister told newspersons that two exhibitions would be held for the artists belonging to this group every year.

Pandey said: “Artists participating in Kala Mangal will not have to bear the expenses of the exhibition. Besides, they would be paid to bring their paintings to the gallery. Our plan is to spend Rs 1 lakh every month on Kala Mangal.”

She added: “A series of lectures would be organised every month. Eminent poet, essayist and literary-cultural critic Ashok Vajpayee will be here 9 to deliver a lecture and share his experiences on November 9.

A catalogue on the exhibition would also be released every month.

Pandey also announced that Vishwamitra Mahotsava would be organised in Buxar on November 23, 24 and 25.

“The event will see Ramleela. A team from New Delhi will be in the state to take part in the event. On the first day, the team from the national capital would perform Vishwamitra Ballet. It will be based on Kathak dance.”