The Maharashtra State Art Exhibition, held annually by the Directorate of Art, features two major components — the Artists’ Section and the Students’ Section
Chandrakant Patil
The Maharashtra government has approved the proposal to organise the 65th State Art Exhibition in Sangli district in February 2026. The decision was finalised during a review meeting chaired by Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil at Mantralaya, where a range of issues related to strengthening art education across the state were discussed.
The Maharashtra State Art Exhibition, held annually by the Directorate of Art, features two major components — the Artists’ Section and the Students’ Section. While the Artists’ Section traditionally takes place in Mumbai, the Students’ Section is rotated across districts to widen reach and ensure participation from students in various regions of the state. This year, the government has decided to host the Students’ Section in Sangli, offering young artists from across Maharashtra an opportunity to present their work to a new and diverse audience.
The meeting brought together principals of 19 government-recognised, grant-in-aid art colleges from across Maharashtra. Senior officials in attendance included Additional Chief Secretary B. Venkatesham Reddy, Director of the Directorate of Art Dr Kishor Ingle, Director of the Maharashtra State Art Education Board Vinod Dandge, and Joint Secretary of the Technical Education Department Santosh Khorgade, along with other department representatives.
Patil noted that the State Art Exhibition serves as an important platform for nurturing emerging talent. “Every year, the Directorate of Art organises this exhibition to encourage the creative abilities of students and artists. Rotating the venue for the Students’ Section ensures that young artists from different districts feel included and motivated to participate,” he said. The Sangli exhibition in February 2026 will showcase outstanding artworks created by students from various art institutions across the state.
The Maharashtra minister also confirmed that the Artists’ Section of the State Art Exhibition will be held at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, from March 10 to 16, 2026, continuing the gallery’s long-standing association with the event.
In addition, the state government has granted approval to increase the prize money and honorarium distributed under the State Art Exhibition by 5 per cent every five years, a measure aimed at boosting the morale of participating students and professional artists.
The meeting also delved into the broader need to reform and restructure art education in Maharashtra in line with the National Education Policy (NEP). Participants emphasised the importance of enhancing academic standards, improving infrastructure, and creating more opportunities for art students. A proposal to establish an independent Fine Arts University in the state was also discussed, with officials expressing optimism about taking the idea forward following a constructive exchange during the meeting.
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