Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore

Founded

1960

Founders

M. Arya Murthy and M. S. Nanjunda Rao

Ideal time needed

1 to 2 hours

Highlights

Roerich paintings, Mysore paintings, leather puppets

What to see

The Parishath has several galleries. The permanent collection covers traditional Mysore paintings, leather puppets, folk art and the well-known Roerich canvases, with their Himalayan landscapes. Five exhibition halls are rented out to artists, so there is almost always a new show of painting, sculpture, prints or photography on view. The campus also has a printmaking studio and an outdoor stage.

Keeping traditional crafts alive

A large part of the Parishath's work is support for crafts that could otherwise fade away. Workshops, camps and demonstrations bring senior artisans together with students, especially in Mysore-style painting and leather shadow puppetry. These sessions also encourage younger artists to combine older techniques with their own ideas.

Events and education

Across the year the open-air theatre and halls host folk theatre, classical dance, puppet shows, music evenings and photography exhibitions. The annual Chitra Santhe, a street art fair held on Kumara Krupa Road outside the campus, draws huge crowds and lets visitors buy work directly from artists.

The campus is also home to Chitrakala Vidyalaya, a college of fine arts linked to Bangalore University, whose courses cover painting, sculpture, printmaking, commercial design and the history of art.

Tips for your visit

The Parishath is on Kumara Krupa Road, close to the city centre and easy to reach by metro, bus or cab. Allow one to two hours for the galleries. Check the event calendar before you go if you want to catch a workshop or a performance, as programmes change often. It pairs well with a day that includes Vidhana Soudha or Cubbon Park. Photography rules differ between galleries, so ask at the entrance before taking pictures of the artworks on display.

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