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Vision and Overview

 

The JD Centre of Art (JDCA), located in Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is envisioned as a state-of-the-artcultural space that brings together folk, tribal, classical, and contemporary visual arts under one roof.  A registered Trust, JDCA is committed to preserving the arts, with accessibility, sustainability, and excellence in museum practice. It is a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the Asia-Europe Museum Network, and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

 

The Centre was conceived by eminent artist and Padma Bhushan awardee Jatin Das, who has donated his vast collection of visual art, craft, textiles, antiquities, books, and films—valued at over ₹70 crores. This includes 9,000 objects of art and craft, more than 500 contemporary artworks, thousands of archival photographs, 2,500 films on art and culture, and an extensive library of art publications.

 

Spread across 32,000 sq. ft. on a one-acre site, the building was designed by India’s only Pritzker Prize-winning architect, B.V. Doshi. The Centre incorporates sustainable features such as solar energy, rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment, and groundwater recharge. It houses 10 galleries for the permanent collection, a café, service centre, reception and the storage. The construction is approximately 90% complete, and the Centre is 60% realized. The project is overseen by Siddhartha Das, Vice Chairman and Trustee, a museum designer, curator, and NID alumnus, who contributes his services pro bono. The Trust and Advisory Committee comprise of distinguished individuals from the arts, academia, public service, and civil society, both from India and abroad.​

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· 1st Instalment: ₹1,86,48,000
· 2nd Instalment: ₹2,17,56,000
· 3rd Instalment: ₹93,24,000

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Pending Requirements to Open the Centre (excluding outreach and events):
 

  • Building Construction, Landscaping, Amphitheatre: ₹1.55 cr

  • Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Safety etc.: ₹2.90 cr

  • Interiors, Signage, Publications etc.: ₹3.07 cr

  • Archiving, Research & Conservation: ₹1.37 cr

  • Workshops, Virtual Museum, Educational Modules: ₹2.92 cr


Areas of Support Required

 

  • Expedite the final pending installment of ₹1,24,32,000.

  • Help secure funding support from PSUs (e.g., NALCO, Mahanadi Coalfields, Paradip Port) and private corporations
    (e.g., Dhamra Port, Gopalpur Port, Tata Steel, Jindal Steel).

  • Establish a partnership with Central and/or State Government to financially support the Centre while JDCA retains
    curatorial and creative responsibility and independence.

  • Build a corpus fund to cover operational costs for the first five years at ₹2 crore per year.

  • Allocate the adjoining one-acre fallow land (requested repeatedly since 2013) to expand facilities
    for national/international events, art residencies, and a world-class art library.

  • Provide a Point Person within the State Government and Culture Ministry to address bottlenecks
    and ensure timely funding for the workflow to continue.

 

List of Trustees


•    Jatin Das – Painter, Sculptor, Muralist, Collector (Chairman)
•    Debi Prasanna Pattanayak – Linguist, Padma Shri awardee
•    Lalit Mansingh – Former Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassador
•    Omkar Mohanty – Vice Chancellor, BP University of Technology
•    Sitakanta Mohapatra – Poet, Padma Vibhushan awardee
•    Jagadananda – Founder, Centre for Youth and Social Development
•    Arabinda Padhi – Senior Civil Servant, Govt. of Odisha
•    Nandita Das – Actor, Filmmaker, Social Advocate
•    Siddhartha Das – Spatial & Graphic Designer
•    Rama Hari Jena – Artist, Former Head, Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi
•    Haranarayan Das – Architect, Former Dean, SPA Vijayawada
•    Nivedita Scudder – Former School Principal, Social Worker
•    Birendra Das – Documentary Filmmaker, Founding Trustee
•    Dhiren Das – Engineer, Founding Trustee
•    Gayatri Das – Social Worker


Advisory Committee 


•    Adoor Gopalakrishnan – Filmmaker, Scriptwriter, Producer
•    Ashok Khosla – Environmentalist, Founder, Development Alternatives
•    Bunker Roy – Social Worker, Educationist, Founder, SWRC Tilonia
•    Debbie Swallow – Art Curator, Scholar, Historian
•    Hasmukh Shah – Retired Senior Civil Servant
•    Jagannath Prasad Das – Poet, Writer, Painter
•    John Philipose – Museologist, Interior Designer
•    Kishore Basa – Anthropologist, Archaeologist
•    Pradeep N. Khandwalla – Former Director, IIM Ahmedabad
•    Prafulla Kumar Mishra – Sanskrit Scholar, Vice Chancellor, North Odisha University
•    Pranabranjan Ray – Art Critic
•    Raghu Rai – Photographer, Photojournalist
•    Russell Harris – Archivist
•    Sam Pitroda – Technocrat, Scientist
•    Subrata Bhowmick – Graphic Designer
 

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