Kolkata’s First ever Art Fair Opens at Academy of Fine Arts

Sarbabharatiya Sangeet-o-Sanskriti Parishad has organised its first-ever art fair at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata, bringing together around 80 artists and sculptors from across India. The seven-day exhibition, which opened on Sunday, September 13, will continue until September 19, with visitors able to view the works from 3 pm to 8 pm.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by several prominent personalities from the fields of art, culture and education. Renowned artist Subrata Gangopadhyay inaugurated the fair. Dr Samit Ray, head of Adamas University, was present as the special guest. Among the other distinguished guests were sculptor Bimal Roy, Pradip Mitra, actor Mita Chatterjee, Tarak Garai, Sushanta Sarkar, artists Joydeep Chatterjee and Malay Dutta, Lalit Kala Akademi head Ravas Kumar Mohanty, art critic Prashanta, dancer Amita Dutta and artist Indrajit Narayan, among others.

The fair occupies all the galleries of the Academy of Fine Arts, creating a platform for artists working across different styles and mediums. The exhibition features paintings, sculptures and other art-related works, reflecting a range of artistic approaches and creative backgrounds, with the participation of artists including Beni Madhab Sarkar, Benoy Dalui, Jayanta Banik, Kanchan Mitra, Karmakar, Samir Karmakar and Susanta Sarkar, among others.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Shantanu Sengupta, head of the Sarbabharatiya Sangeet-o-Sanskriti Parishad, said that the organisation had conceived the art fair with the objective of bringing artists who had trained or passed out from the institution into greater public attention. He said the participation of around 80 artists and sculptors from different parts of India marked an important initiative for the organisation.

According to Dr Sengupta, the fair is also intended to provide artists with an opportunity to display and sell their works. He said that purchases by art lovers could provide participating artists with both recognition and financial support. He further expressed the hope that artists trained through the organisation would eventually establish themselves independently and contribute to enhancing the institution’s reputation in India and abroad.

The Sarbabharatiya Sangeet-o-Sanskriti Parishad has been active in the cultural and educational sphere for more than five decades. Its activities extend beyond music to areas including dance, theatre, acting, instrumental music, yoga, painting and sculpture. The organisation conducts examinations and cultural programmes and has a network of centres and students in India and abroad.

The art fair represents an expansion of these activities into a dedicated platform for visual artists. The initiative is intended not only to showcase artworks but also to create a direct connection between artists and art enthusiasts. The initiative has also received appreciation, with the organisers expressing their intention to continue supporting artists and create similar opportunities in the future.