Delhi to soon have its own ‘art streets’

Art lovers will no longer have to throng big galleries to buy artwork with the NDMC planning to establish ‘art streets’ in Connaught Place and other areas in the national Capital on the lines of those in Italy.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has already invited Request for Proposal (RPF) for a public-private-partnership project under which painters and sculptors can produce and sell “live paintings and sculptures”.

“If one wants to buy artwork, he or she will have to go to one of the big galleries. Also, not all artists, including fresh college graduates, have access to such galleries,” NDMC Chairman Jalaj Srivastav told PTI. “Hence, we plan to bring art as well as artists on the streets as in places like Italy where artists are seen painting or sketching on streets and selling them simultaneously,” he said. The civic agency will award the contract for the PPP project to an independent art institute or company through a competitive bidding process.

The project is likely to take off in another two months and the first art street will be launched near Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan in Connaught Place. “The concept will be more like artists in ‘tehbazari’ mode and people will get to see artists painting on the spot. “We will begin with the emporium lane on Baba Kharak Singh marg. Originally, I wanted to start with Safdar Hashmi Marg but due to vehicular traffic and parking problems there is too much local resistance there. We are 

working it out,” Srivastava said.