PATNA: A RISING STAR IN MUSEUM LANDSCAPE

Team Art Soul Life speaks to Anjani Sinha, Director General, Museums, Bihar. He is the force behind showcasing the rich heritage with a focus on storytelling, not just display.

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ASL: What sparked the vision for your art institution? Was there a particular moment or gap you felt compelled to address?

DG: I've always believed that art institutions deserve a shared space—a place where they can come together to showcase their history, heritage, culture, and collections, while engaging in meaningful dialogue about the challenges facing the art world. But such a platform simply didn't exist.

What we created in India was unlike anything the world had seen before. It was a rare and unexpected opportunity, and when it came together, I felt a deep sense of pride. We were sourcing original works from across the globe—not through grand design, but almost by chance. And yet, that serendipity became the foundation of something extraordinary.

ASL: Are you required to travel extensively for your work?

DG: Yes, art collectors invite us frequently. Whenever a new museum is being built in India, we're usually involved. Right now, we're working on a museum in Bihar. The Bapu Tower is complete, and a stupa museum in Vaishali is underway. We're also finishing a Science Museum, modeled after Delhi and Kolkata's complexes, but with upgraded technology. It should open in a few months.

ASL: So, how is the visitor inflow here?

DG: It's quite encouraging—around 500,000 ticketed visitors annually, plus another 150,000 who attend free events like exhibitions. That's roughly 650,000 people a year. We also see about 1,000 visitors daily through the Museum DIN network, and the numbers are growing.

But here's the real question I always ask: Who is your visitor? Too often, institutions model themselves on Western frameworks that don't reflect our context. My audience is largely local—about 96%—and that's who I focus on. Scholars and experts matter, of course, but I'm building for the 98% who actually walk through our doors.