Vadodara: Ahead of the last state assembly elections, artists in Vadodara gathered and demanded an art gallery in the city to hold exhibitions showcasing their paintings. The demand was so strong that the ruling party accepted it and decided to set up a new art gallery at the city’s Badamdi Baug. The construction of the new art gallery is ongoing here. However, it has once again triggered a controversy.

When visited the construction site, the artists found that the art gallery under construction had provision for seven windows. The artists made a representation before the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) and conveyed their reservations against the windows. The artists argued that art galleries typically don’t have windows, and the provision of windows would reduce the display area. In response to this representation, the city Mayor and Municipal Commissioner have decided to conceal the windows and make the art gallery centrally air-conditioned.

The VMC has also conveyed to the artists that the central AC system in an art gallery will result in increased rental for artists who wish to hold exhibitions there in the future. DeshGujarat