The Bihar Museum Biennale 2023, a grand celebration of culture, heritage, and innovation, is currently underway in Patna, Bihar. This remarkable event, which runs from August 7th to December 31st, exemplifies the museum’s commitment to education, culture, and heritage preservation. It serves as a vibrant platform for cultural enrichment and empowerment, fostering engagement with the arts and history—a phenomenon referred to as the “Museum Culture.”
A Global Celebration
The second edition of the Bihar Museum Biennale takes the form of a physical extravaganza, uniting art, culture, and heritage under the theme “Connecting People, Connecting Cultures, Interrogating Museums.” This theme encapsulates the essence of the biennale, as it strives to promote and celebrate museum culture while connecting people and cultures on a global scale. It also serves the vital role of preserving our rich heritage for future generations.
Diverse Offerings: The Biennale 2023 presents a diverse array of experiences, including exhibitions, symposiums, master classes, virtual tours, and captivating art showcases. This cultural extravaganza brings together four Indian museums and eight international exhibitions from countries like Brazil, France, Nepal, and Italy, fostering a rich tapestry of cultural narratives.
Symposium Insights with Expert Voices: The biennale’s main symposium delved into critical aspects of museum culture, featuring insightful talks from esteemed experts. It began with a keynote address by Prof. Yannick Lintz, President of Musee Guimet, Paris, who explored the foundation of curatorial communication—the assembly of art objects.
The symposium also tackled the changing creative industry within museums, emphasizing their role as catalysts of innovation and growth. Notably, Dr. Pheroza Godrej, Director of Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, and Ms. Rakhi Sarkar, Director of the Centre of International Modern Art, Kolkata, shared their perspectives, moderated by Dr. Saryu Doshi, an Art Historian and Author.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming sessions include discussions on ‘New Museum & Typologies,’ where experts, including Mr. Stephen Inglis, Director General of Research and Collections at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hala Warde, Lebanese/French Architect, and Michael Peter Edson, Director of the Museum of Solutions, will delve into the history of human activity preservation. Additionally, ‘Indigenous and Intangible Cultural Heritage,’ featuring Dr. Lars-Christian Koch, Director of the Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin, Germany, and Prof. Amareswar Galla PhD, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums & Sustainable Heritage Development, Anant National University, Ahmedabad, will explore the significance of movable cultural property and its connection to the identity of indigenous people.
Museum Evolution: The symposium explores the rapid evolution of museums from scholarly art repositories to vibrant community voices. It acknowledges the inseparable relationship between technology, engagement, and sustainability in shaping museum operations, outreach, curation, and models.
A Glimpse into the Future: The symposium also offers glimpses into the future of museums, with sessions on museum branding and merchandising, city museums and museum management, AI, and museum engagement. These discussions reveal how museums are embracing technology and innovation to remain relevant and engaging in our ever-changing world.
Trailblazers of Change: The final panel of the symposium provides a stage for trailblazers who are reshaping the museum model in both physical and virtual realms. It includes experts who envision the influence and challenges of our era on future institutions, architectural heritage, and infrastructure.
As the Bihar Museum Biennale 2023 unfolds, it celebrates the rich tapestry of culture and heritage while embracing the innovations of the present and future. This dynamic event invites visitors to explore, engage, and reimagine the world of museums, leaving a lasting impact on the cultural landscape.