Several artists in Bengaluru are up against the Karnataka government for allowing a private foundation to take over the management of state-run Venkatappa Art Gallery.
The controversy ensued after the Karnataka government signed an MoU with Tasveer Foundation to take over the Venkatappa Art Gallery. The agreement allows Tasveer foundation to improve the existing display and visitor experience, bring in new collections, programmes and events.
Over 300 artists have reportedly been protesting since the first week of March. They have even formed a forum called Venkatappa Art Gallery Forum for the protests.
The move is part of a larger government plan of putting 46 sites across the state for adoption to improve their tourism value. Some world heritage sites have also been shortlisted for adoption.
While the government's move has sparked protests, several artists are also backing the effort by the Karnataka government. Prominent voices from Bengaluru have argued that private initiatives would do a lot of good since government museums and galleries are being neglected.
Prominent among them is city industrialist Kiran Mazumdar Shaw who says artists who are protesting this are politicising the issue unnecessarily. This prevents a 40-year-old famous gallery from getting upgraded, though it is in dire need of some straightening up.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Tourism Minister RV Deshpande has convened a meeting on Thursday with all the stakeholders over the issue. The Minister said that he would take all stakeholders into consideration and the gallery would not be privatised, but only leased.
The artists in the city have protested by holding black umbrellas and also by blowing whistle.
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