The Ministry of Culture has started Project PARI (Public Art of India) on the occasion of 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 21st -31st July 2024..

Project PARI (Public Art of India) aims to stimulate a dialogue, reflection, and inspiration, contributing to the dynamic cultural fabric of the nation. This initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is being executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and National Gallery of Modern Art, which intends to bring forth public art that draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of India while incorporating modern themes and techniques.

Art is a vital medium to propagate and spread messages through creativity, hence the outreach of Public Art is immense and thought-provoking. It acts as a significant factor in giving visual recognition to a specific place. The public art augments and induces meaning to a public space making it an integral part of the culture and society.

In this first big inaugural event of “Project PARI” more than 200 visual artists came together to create the various traditional artforms, wall paintings, murals, sculptures and installation such as Phad paintings, Thangka paintings, Warli art, Gond Art, Alpona art, Cheriyal painting, Tanjore paintings, Kalamkari, Pithora Art, Kerela Murals, etc on different themes.

“Project PARI” not only highlights the aesthetic and cultural diversity of India but also aims to enhance Delhi’s visual and cultural landscape, contributing to a sense of pride and belonging within the community.

46th Session of the World Heritage Committee

The 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee, hosted by India for the first time, was Organized  from 21st to 31st July 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The tagline of the logo is सह नौ यशः which means in English as ‘May our Glory Grow’. “The tagline has been derived from the ancient Sanskrit scripture ‘Taitiriya Upanishad’ ,

45^th Session of the World Heritage Committee was held in Riyadh 10 September–25 September 2023. (Originally scheduled for 19 June–30 June 2022 in Kazan, Russia.  But Postponed to an extended 2023 session due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine )

47^th Session of the World Heritage Committee is scheduled to hold in SOFIA capital city of Bulgaria.

The World Heritage Convention 1972 and World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee stablished under the Convention of General Conference of UNESCO at its seventeenth session on 16 November 1972.

Committee meets once a year It comprises representatives from 21 state parties that are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a four-year term. These parties vote on decisions and proposals related to the World Heritage Convention and World Heritage List.

Note- According to the World Heritage Convention, a committee member’s term of office is six years. However many States Parties choose to voluntarily limit their term to four years, in order to give other States Parties an opportunity to serve.

The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, selects the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List.

It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.