Cuttack: Nearly 11 months after its inauguration, the Cuttack Art Gallery remains closed, much to the disappointment of artists and cultural enthusiasts in the city. The gallery was inaugurated on Aug 31, 2024, by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the occasion of ‘Self-Governance Day’. Constructed at a cost of over Rs 2 crore, the gallery was built on the first floor of the Town Hall, covering 5,585sq ft. Equipped with modern amenities such as a lift, toilets and drinking water facilities, it was meant to be a vibrant space for exhibitions, workshops and cultural exchange.Initially, there was a proposal to form an artists’ committee to manage the gallery, but the idea didn’t materialise. “Several times, we had discussions with CMC to run the gallery, but there was no proper response. The space can be used for academic activities related to arts and crafts, which would attract participants and create a vibrant art culture,” said Rabi Narayan Rath, a city-based artist. “But it’s disheartening to witness the gallery remain closed since its inauguration,” he added.Sudeshna Das, a Cuttack-based painter, said, “City artists were thrilled at the idea of finally having a dedicated gallery space. But months later, we are still waiting for it to function. The delay is discouraging.”Members of the Cuttack Creative Artists’ Association have also expressed disappointment over the delay. “It is shocking that a facility created with such vision and investment is lying unused. We have submitted proposals and offered to collaborate on events, but there has been no action. Authorities must take immediate steps to operationalise it,” said Sashikanta Rout, secretary of the association.Cuttack mayor Subhash Singh said, “We understand the disappointment of the artists’ community. We will discuss with the artists once again, and the gallery will be made functional very soon. We are working on finalising the management model to ensure smooth operations.”
