Yuj Foundation unveils ‘art of community’, chronicling a decade of India’s public art movement

SURAT: More than a decade of turning ordinary public spaces into vibrant cultural destinations has now been captured in a landmark publication. The Yuj Foundation has unveiled ‘Art of Community’, an archival book documenting the evolution and impact of India’s Public Art Festivals.

The commemorative edition traces the movement from its first Dumas Art Project in Surat in 2013 to 33 festivals across Surat, Bengaluru, Chennai, Amritsar, Nagpur and other cities, attracting more than 11 million visitors.

The book highlights how public spaces have been transformed into platforms for artistic expression, cultural dialogue and community participation, while providing emerging student artists opportunities for mentorship and collaboration with established artists and institutions.

“Great public spaces are defined not only by how they are built, but by how they bring people together. We believe art has the power to transform everyday places into shared cultural experiences,” said Siddharth Yog, Founding Patron, Yuj Foundation.

Curator Sumi Gupta said the initiative began with a simple idea—to make art a shared public experience rather than something restricted to galleries.

“Art of Community is a celebration of the countless artists, students, mentors, institutions and communities who have helped bring this vision to life,” Gupta said.

The festivals have collaborated with institutions including Sir J.J. School of Art, MSU Baroda, Chitrakala Parishath and Lalit Kala Akademi, besides international organisations such as UNESCO and the British Council.

Compiled over 10 years with contributions from more than 50 people, the publication combines essays, photographs and stories to preserve the legacy of India’s growing public art movement.