An official India art pavilion at Venice Biennale

NEW DELHI - The government is gearing up to install an India art pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2011, one of the world’s biggest showcases of contemporary art, an official said Wednesday.

The government has completed the modalities of booking space for the pavilion and has reportedly earmarked Rs.1 crore ($225,500) budget for the purpose, he said.

The Lalit Kala Akademi will be at the helm of the India pavilion at the biennale.

“It is a prestigious event and we are preparing to showcase the best of Indian art in Venice,” the official said.

India is no stranger to Venice. Every year, it is represented by leading galleries who exhibit top artists in specially curated shows. The government participation will add to the Indian showcase at the biennale - that draws the best of global art.

In May, Bice Curigar was appointed director of the visual arts sector of the biennale with the responsibility of curating the 54th International Art Exhibition in Venice that will run June 4-Nov 27, 2011.

A graduate of the University of Zurich, Curiger is an historian, critic and curator.

“It is a great honour and a privilege to be asked to be the director of the Venice Biennale, one of the worlds most important overviews on contemporary art. I am very much looking forward to the great challenge, Curiger said in a posting on the biennale website.

Meanwhile, a women’s corporate delegation with representatives from the Confederation of Indian Industry led by veteran art collector Rajshree Patti met Culture Secretary Jawhar Sircar Wednesday to discuss the possibility of cooperation in the sphere of art education, display and promoting art in public space, the official from the department of culture said.