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Art institute partners with PMC to turn pedestrian stretch into a platform for creativity for a day

It is symbolic that the festival is being held on the street and signifies the organisers' intent to democratise art.

4 min readPuneNov 11, 2025 12:00 PM IST

An application process was carried out on the PMC Care app between November 6 and 9. (File)

There’s rarely a quiet moment on JM Road, especially during the day when traffic roars and pedestrians rush to reach their destination. On November 16, however, a small part of this busy and bustling road will become something more – colourful, celebratory and creative.

The pavement, between Balgandharva Police Chowki and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden, will turn into an art gallery from early morning to late in the evening as the first Street Art Festival 2025, organised by the Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), takes place. The festival seeks to bring art closer to people, who otherwise do not find the time or opportunity to visit galleries.

“There will be a variety of art on display, from painting and sculpture to pottery and ceramics,” said Dr Girish Charwad, an Associate Professor at the Bharti Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts. The participants will range from students and alumni of the college to freelancers. An application process was carried out on the PMC Care app between November 6 and 9. A committee will select the participating artists from the list of applicants. “Keeping the space in mind, we have decided to showcase 50 artists,” says Charwad.

It is symbolic that the festival is being held on the street and signifies the organisers’ intent to democratise art. The inspiration for the Pune Street Art Festival is the famous Chitra Santhe, which is organised annually by the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, in Bengaluru. Held on January 5 this year, the Chitra Santhe, which has been held for 22 years, had 1,500 participating artists and lakhs of visitors.

“PMC is celebrating its 75th anniversary while the Bharti Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts has turned 25. We decided to hold a street art festival that would increase awareness of multiple genres, give visibility to artists, who have been badly affected by the Covid years, and ensure a good experience for everybody,” says Charwad. The festival will include sale of the works at zero commission, with all earnings kept by the artist. The price of the works is expected to start at Rs 500.

An important facet of the festival is to make space for dialogues between the artists and the visitors. Such conversations are, often, not possible even at well-known galleries. “You can speak to artists to understand how they spend decades on their practice. Their lives witness moments of triumph and tribulation but, despite it, they continue to make art. People, who are not associated with art, rarely appreciate the rigour that goes behind an artwork. We are looking forward to many such dialogues so that people can understand the journey of an artist,” says Charwad.

He adds that the festival hopes to reach children, who are obsessively scrolling, and parents, who are helpless in the digitalised world. “We feel that if a child is encouraged to spend that time in any kind of art, it would be beneficial for them. Adults under stress can also feel inspired to take up an art form. Meeting artists might inspire people to try their hands at creativity,” says Charwad. It is to this effect that the festival will include sessions of artists demonstrating their skill and making art before visitors. “Art is an essential part of everybody’s life. It contributes to society. The street art festival is a salute to all creative pursuits,” says Charwad.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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