Lalit Kala Akademi Announces 20 Awards at 65th National Exhibition of Art

Lalit Kala Akademi Announces 20 Awards at 65th National Exhibition of Art

Why in News?

• The Lalit Kala Akademi, India’s National Academy of Art, has announced 20 awards for 20 artists at the 65th National Exhibition of Art (NEA). 
• The exhibition is among the major annual platforms for showcasing contemporary visual art in India. 

Key Highlights

• The 65th National Exhibition of Art received: 
  • 6,175 artworks 
  • 2,495 artists 
  • Participation from 27 States and Union Territories. 
• The selected works cover diverse forms of visual art, including: 
  • Painting 
  • Sculpture 
  • Printmaking 
  • Drawing 
  • Mixed media 
• The exhibition also supports artists by providing them with visibility, professional opportunities and access to collectors and institutions. 

Selected Awardees

About Lalit Kala Akademi

• The Lalit Kala Akademi was inaugurated on 5 August 1954 by the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. 
• It was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, on 11 March 1957. 
• It is the youngest of the three national Akademies established by the Government of India for the promotion of the arts. 
• It works to promote visual arts through: 
  • National and international exhibitions 
  • Artists’ camps and workshops 
  • Scholarships and publications 
  • Documentation and research 
  • Cultural exchange programmes 
• Its National Exhibition of Art is its most prestigious annual event. 
• The Akademi also maintains a permanent collection covering contemporary, modern, folk and tribal art. 

About National Exhibition of Art (NEA): 

• National Exhibition of Art (NEA) is an important annual event organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi (National Academy of Art). 
• The exhibition is held every year and provides artists with a platform to showcase their works. 
• Outstanding artists are recognised and awarded for their contributions. 
• During the exhibition, the Lalit Kala Akademi traditionally purchased selected artworks for its permanent collection. 
• This practice served two purposes: 
  • Encouraging artists by providing them financial support and recognition. 
  • Building and enriching the Akademi’s art collection. 
• After the Lalit Kala Akademi was taken over by the Government in 1997, the practice of purchasing artworks from the National Exhibition of Art was discontinued. 

Practice Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Exhibition of Art (NEA):

1. The Lalit Kala Akademi was inaugurated in 1950 and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, in 1957. 
2. The National Exhibition of Art is organised annually and provides artists with a platform to showcase their works. 
3. The Lalit Kala Akademi is the youngest among the three national Akademies established by the Government of India for the promotion of arts. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
 (b) 2 and 3 only
 (c) 1 and 3 only
 (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only 

Explanation:

• The Lalit Kala Akademi was inaugurated in 1954 and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, in 1957. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect. 
• The National Exhibition of Art is organised every year and provides artists with a platform to showcase their works. Hence, Statement 2 is Correct. 
• The Lalit Kala Akademi is the youngest of the three national Akademies established by the Government of India for the promotion of arts. Hence, Statement 3 is Correct.