Kashmir gets its first art and culture centre, centuries-old building converted into gallery- See pics

The contemporary artists can put up their work for exhibit as well as art work as old as 300 years have been put up in the gallery. Kashmir artists had no art gallery till now to showcase their work. 

Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh ,Deputy Director, Archives, said, ''We had submitted a DPR to the government of India for the financial assistance of around 137 crores for the whole complex. This will be the first kind of complex in Jammu and Kashmir that will become the cultural centre where we are going to display various artefacts which we are getting from SPS Museum and they will be displayed here in various buildings. So far this building is concerned we have already converted the stone building into the art museum. We have paintings from various institutes. The work is still going on. The work was started in 2019 and it's still on. We have restored it in its original glory. The khatamband ceiling was introduced in Kashmir with this building. The art was called mouj. We have displayed more than 150 paintings here. The artists can come here and we will provide the space for exhibitions. There will be an international art gallery."

The 18th-century building will be used to promote art and culture in the Kashmir Valley. This has been a demand of artists for decades to have a platform where they can showcase their talents. 

The Jammu and Kashmir government with the help of the central government started work on this project three years ago. The Shergari palace was built in 1772 when Afghan governor Jawansher Khan ruled Kashmir. It was later used by the Dogra rulers after which the complex was turned into erstwhile state Assembly and Legislative Council and also used as Administrative Secretariat.

Since, there are no art galleries in the Kashmir valley, this centre has been getting a lot of response already. The entree has been kept free and anyone can visit it during 10am-5pm everyday, except Monday. 

''The response is very good. The people associated with art as well as students are coming to this place. We are getting a great response. We started it on August 15 and it's been going really well. The officers here have worked day and night on this. This is the first art museum in Kashmir. The private institutions are also coming here. '' said Ghulam Jeelani Malik, Officer, Museum. 

Appreciating the initiative, Naushad Gayoor, an artist, said, "It's a nice initiative since we were fighting for it. It was a struggle for an art gallery by our senior artists. I think we have finally reached the goal. Now the government has done the inaugural show. I hope this will give a new dimension to Kashmir contemporary art. The people of the valley will be able to witness the art. They were not aware because of the platform issue. Obviously when people will display the work, the new generation artists will come there and get inspired. Art Galleries are meant to inspire people."