Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Felicitates 20 Award-Winning Artists at National Exhibition of Arts

The 65th National Exhibition of Art, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, was held on September 29, 2026, in New Delhi. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of  Culture and Tourism, Government of India, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India; Shri K.K. Mishra, Joint Secretary (Akademies), Ministry of Culture; and Shri Rajeev Kumar, Secretary, Lalit Kala Akademi, along with Padma Shri awardees Shri Sudhakar Olwe, Shri Sudarshan Patnaik, and Shri Ashok Kumar Vishwas were present on the occasion.

On the occasion, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other dignitaries viewed artworks created from waste materials during the ‘Seva Hi Sanskriti’ workshops organised at various centres of the Lalit Kala Akademi.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the significance of bringing together creativity and sustainability. He said that the ‘Seva Hi Sanskriti’ initiative, organised on the occasion of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s birthday, demonstrates how creativity and the spirit of service can come together meaningfully. He appreciated the Lalit Kala Akademi’s efforts across its various verticals, including the ‘Waste to Wonder’ initiative, which gives discarded materials a new artistic expression and highlights the role of art in promoting sustainability.