Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (CKP) is a visual arts complex in Bangalore, India. It has 18 galleries, with 13 showing a permanent collection of paintings, sculptures, and folk art. The other galleries host exhibitions by well-known artists. The folk art collection includes Mysore paintings and leather puppets. The Parishath also runs the College of Fine Arts.
Every January it organises Chitra Santhe, a festival that offers affordable art to the public. The event’s motto is “Art for All.”
The Parishath began on a 2.5-acre piece of land leased by the Karnataka government, with early donations from industrialist H. K. Kejriwal. Svetoslav Roerich donated several paintings, and works by his son Nicholas Roerich were also given.
In 1964, Chitrakala Vidyalaya was added to the Parishath. In 1966, it was recognized as an art centre by the state and by the national Lalit Kala Akademi. It helped launch a survey of Karnataka’s art treasures, including Mysore paintings. Over time it expanded to include more galleries and a graphic studio.
In 1995, Kejriwal donated his family’s art collection, displayed in larger galleries. In 1998–99, a sculpture gallery opened. An open-air theatre was added to support both visual and performing arts. In 2003, two more large galleries for international and folk art were opened. The Parishath also publishes books on art and culture.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:16 (CET).