Won't Revisit Venkatappa Art Gallery PPP, says Government

BENGALURU: In his first public comment on the protests by artists who are opposing the adoption of Venkatappa Art Gallery (VAG) by a private collector, tourism minister RV Deshpande ruled out the possibility of rethinking the PPP.

Assuring that he will "take the view of artists too into consideration", Deshpande said, "I have to take care of the needs of the citizens of Bengaluru, the state and tourists. (Abhishek) Poddar has an ambitious plan and has volunteered to adopt the gallery out of passion for the arts." He was referring to the founder of Tasveer Foundation, which entered into an MoU with two agencies the state archaeology and the tourism department for a five-year period (and renewable).

As many as 400 artists formed a human chain on Sunday , opposing the " privatisation" of the public heritage space on Kasturba Road. Deshpande said the protestors had misconstrued the project. "There is no profit-making. The money collected as entry fee will be spent on gallery maintenance and development. Poddar cannot touch a single paisa," he told ET.

While the pact was signed in July 2015, artists got wind of it only recently. Artists, however, stuck to their guns. "It is the only public art gallery in Karnataka. We have fought for it and nurtured it for over 75 years. Private parties entering will affect personal artistic freedom," said artist Gurudas Shenoy.