When it opened in August 2019, Museum camera was the country's first museum dedicated to the story of Photography. Several of the cameras on display here are from a personal collection, once stored in the basement of photographer and archivist Aditya Arya, the museum's founder and director. In fact, some still are, and in years to come will find a home in the Center for Photographic Arts (as it is also known), as it looks to maintain its status as the city's cultural hub. is
With the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon – which Arya helped set up in partnership with the India Photo Archive Foundation – extending its lease for another 11 years (until 2039), and its As well as giving permission to extend the premises by a further 480 sq.m., there is a lot more. Looking forward to what has quickly become the city's most visited destination.
In addition to photo exhibitions, Museo Camera has also hosted film screenings, poetry evenings, concerts (classical, jazz, and fusion, among other genres). plays and conversation, responding to the city's residents' need for a space that allows the arts to flourish.
Nevertheless, there was a time when Covid threatened to nullify all Arya's efforts. “We didn't know whether we would survive or not,” he told TOI. “But, you know, those two or three months were like a godsend. It was a time to think, to think about where you're going, and not panic. It was good how things actually ended up.”
It helped that after the first lockdown ended, donors backed an effort that became a reality thanks to a combination of government money and crowdfunding. “When the museum reopened, we reached out to people and appealed for help. And it was great to see so many people coming forward and supporting the museum, and companies donating solar power systems to us,” Arya recalls. do
“Also, museums and institutions went online and connected a lot more during Covid, because there were concerns and common issues that had to be addressed.” Indeed, it was during the pandemic that Arya – in the way he ran the place and in practice – oversaw the transformation from a pure museum to a center of culture. “It was at that time that we tried to solve the challenge of how to bring people to the museum. So, the museum should not be thought of as a small, stand-alone entity; it should be music, theater and workshops. becomes a big institution like a cultural centre,' he tells us.
Change between uncertainties
For all the official announcements, the city still lacks Kala Kendras, or even small spaces where audiences feel like they're sharing space with — and connecting with — performing artists. It's this lack of space that Museo Camera is trying to fill. Gurugrammers, then, can look to experiences that have more in common with batik than big-ticket events in large auditoriums—in other words, relaxed and informal stages where music shows as well as dance recitals and Theater productions can be organized.
“Performance space is very important, and because performances are more intimate, they shouldn't be for more than 200-300 people – we need small, intimate spaces that can bring people and communities together, where we can to be able to perform more,” Arya explains
“The idea is to have larger galleries, and try to create an amphitheater-like space — because we have back-to-back shows, and we have to tell people, 'Sorry, we can't accommodate you. .' So, I have a lot of art galleries, theater spaces, space for talks, stand-up comedy and small screenings, which can only be for 100-125 people. So many things are possible.”
The Museo Camera came out in quick time within 17 months. “Why can't we do the next one in 10 months or eight months? I think we should be good to go early next year or mid-2025,” says a confident Arya, adding that the extension CSR funds will crowd fund and support.
Meanwhile, the journey continues, and the learning curve hasn't stopped growing. “We're like an amoeba, we keep evolving and evolving,” Arya admitted. “We say to ourselves, 'Okay, how can we use this space?'
“How to adapt, how to think on your feet, how to solve problems and how to solve challenges – that's what the team learned.”
And even a modern setup can be home to a musical legacy. Last year, in partnership with SPIC MACAY, Museo Camera launched a series called Morning Ragas, in which instrumentalists and singers from the Indian and Carnatic traditions performed in front of rasikas. These Sunday mornings proved to be memorable, and promise to be many more once the new space is ready.