A major art exhibition was organised after a gap of 12 years in Darjeeling on Monday.

The Annual Art Exhibition 2021 organised by the Himalayan Art Academy in association with Sahitya Kala Prakostha, Darjeeling, was thrown open to the public at Himalayan Kala Mandir here on Monday. The exhibition will continue till October 30.

“A major art exhibition is being held in Darjeeling after 12 years,” said Hemu Rai, president, Himalayan Art Academy, an organisation of artists from the region.

Hill artists attributed the irregularity of such events to the absence of a gallery and lack of patronage.

They said that the town once used to organise three exhibitions in a year.

“For decades we have been requesting governments to set up an art gallery in the town. In the absence of a gallery, our artists are forced to stack their works at home which is discouraging,” said Rai.

“We don’t have a gallery, we don’t have an art school, forget about art colleges. Art materials are not easily available here and there is no institutional help. Governments dole out money to organise pujas, football tournaments, musical events and other activities but we have not received a penny to organise exhibitions,” said Rai.

“This year we received support from the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajantrantik Morcha,” said Rai.

Fifty-one artists have put up 173 exhibits at the event.