The interpretation centre at the Buddha Jayanti Park in Niladri Vihar in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 11: The Buddha Jayanti Park at Neeladri Vihar will have an art gallery, to be promoted jointly by the state tourism and culture department and the development authority.

This will be fifth art gallery in the city — the biggest among the five with around 20,000sqft area.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority developed the park with central grant to promote Buddhist tourism circuits in the state. The park was opened to public in 2000.

The art gallery will be housed in a building, which was developed as an interpretation centre on Buddhism. The 45-acre park was originally conceptualised on the theme of Lord Buddha and stories related to his life. According to the master plan, there will be a huge statue of Lord Buddha at the centre of the park. However, as it will take long time to develop the park fully, the building meant for the interpretation centre is expected to serve as an art gallery to promote art and culture. Later, a part of the building will be converted as the interpretation centre.

State tourism and culture secretary Arvind Kumar Padhee said: “We have asked a leading artist to prepare a report on a sustainability model for the gallery, so that it can run independently inside the park.”

Bhubaneswar has four art galleries. While the best is at the regional centre, Lalit Kala Akademi, in Kharvela Nagar, another is at the state museum. Two private art galleries — Odisha Modern Art Gallery and Subhadra Art Gallery — are functioning from Forest Park and Tankapani Road, respectively.

Secretary of the state Lalit Kala Akademi Rabi Rath said: “The proposed gallery will help in promoting young artists and art connoisseurs. With the new-generation artists trying to experiment with various mediums, more platform to display their works will help them.”

Senior artist and promoter of the Odisha Modern Art Gallery Tarakanta Parida said establishment of more galleries would add to the development and promotion of art scenario in the city.

The development authority has plans to develop the 45-acre park to a major destination with water bodies, amphitheatre and art installations on themes based on Buddhism. “We are progressing slowly according to availability of funds,” said horticulturist Ashok N. Dhar.

Vice-chairman of the development authority Vishal Kumar Dev said: “Artists can use the space on rent for displaying their works — in group or solo shows — for temporary period. Art shows for a longer period can be held with nominal charges.”