THE VISVA-BHARATI University in Shantiniketan is all set to get the twin museums to accommodate its artwork. The university has trove of artwork which it is unable to put on display due to shortage of space.
The Union ministry of culture and HRD has approved the project. The project was proposed by the university seven months ago.
“We have over 100 paintings and works of art kept in a storeroom. These need to be preserved and displayed. There is paucity of space at the university… so, we have proposed the setting up of twin museums to house the art. While one will come up at our Kala Bhavan, the other will be built at Rabindra Bhavan,” acting Vice-Chancellor Swapan Dutta said.
“We had submitted a proposal to the culture ministry seven months ago and it has given us an in-principle go-ahead. The ministry has told us that it will give us a grant of Rs 8 cr. for the project,” he added.
The estimated cost of the project is 21 cr. and HRD ministry will fund the rest of the project, said Dutta.
“We already have rooms to display art. But there are more and not enough room. What we do right now is take the art out every once in a while and do open air exhibitions. Once the twin museums come up, we can have permanent displays. We can also set aside rooms for travelling exhibitions and bring in art from outside,” said Dutta
He added: “These works are national treasures and include Rabindranath and Abanindranath Tagoreʼs works. They need to be displayed so that students can access them for academic and research work. Also, many tourists and artists visit Visva-Bharati and is a pity that they don't get to see these works. We believe that more such visitors will come to Shantiniketan once the twin museums are built.”