The Ministry of Culture organized two major engagement programs as part of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM) development under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative. The Shilpkar Samagam was held on 2-3 September 2026 at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, bringing together over 150 master artisans, craft practitioners, and institutions from diverse craft traditions including textiles, metalwork, woodcraft, stone carving, ceramics, bamboo and cane, decorative arts, and traditional painting traditions. The program focused on integrating India's craft traditions into the Museum's architecture, interiors, galleries, and public spaces through thematic sessions, interactive workshops, and live displays by over 100 master artisans.
The Vendor Development Programme followed on 7-8 September 2026, involving approximately 200 firms and organizations from India and abroad across 10 specialized domains including museum-grade display and conservation showcase systems, architectural lighting, audio-visual technologies, immersive media solutions, security systems, exhibition fabrication, smart building systems, and visitor engagement platforms. The program featured 70 capability presentations and 200 bilateral meetings between firms and project stakeholders, with 80 focused discussions on Make in India collaborations, localization opportunities, and technology transfer.
Key outcomes included the formation of thematic working groups for continued artisan engagement, identification of potential craft interventions across museum spaces, creation of a comprehensive vendor ecosystem database, and establishment of a structured platform for ongoing engagement between the Ministry, consultants, and industry stakeholders. The programs aimed to strengthen India's museum industry ecosystem, foster innovation and knowledge exchange, and position India as a future global hub for the design, manufacture, and export of museum goods, technologies, and exhibition solutions.
The Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum is envisioned as a landmark cultural institution that will present India's story across millennia through world-class exhibitions, immersive experiences, and cutting-edge technologies while integrating India's living cultural traditions. Secretary Vivek Aggarwal emphasized that the Museum is conceived not merely as a repository of objects but as a living institution reflecting India's civilizational continuity and creative traditions.