Bistaar: Chittagong Arts Complex was a self-sustained,[1] multidisciplinary and multifaceted arts facility based in port city of Chittagong in Bangladesh.[2][3] The place was also a contemporary venue for performing arts and culture in the city.[4] Founded in late 2014 by the writer, translator and cultural personality Alam Khorshed, under non-profit project called Chittagong Arts Trust.[5] In 2016, it has been listed as one of the seven art organizations in South Asia by ArtX's ASEF culture360 under the Arts Management Caselet Project

Bistaar: Chittagong Arts Complex
বিস্তার: চিটাগং আর্টস কমপ্লেক্স
AbbreviationBCAC
PredecessorBishaud Bangla
FormationDecember 29, 2014; 9 years ago (2014-12-29)
FounderAlam Khorshed
Founded atChittagong, Bangladesh
TypeNon-profit organization
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersMehedibag
Location
  • Chittagong, Bangladesh
Coordinates22°21′14″N 91°49′20″E / 22.353844°N 91.8222392°E / 22.353844; 91.8222392
Region
Chittagong
Membership (2019)
50+
Director
Alam Khorshed
SubsidiariesBishaud Bangla
Websitebistaar.org

Background

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Bishaud Bangla

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Bishaud Bangla, served over nine years as a small-scale arts organization of different ilk,[2] but it closed its doors in 2014, only to transform itself into a bigger and full-blown arts space.[6]

Formation of Bistaar

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After the end of Bishaud Bangla, its new incarnation, named as "Bistaar: Chittagong Arts Complex", started its artistic journey on 29 December 2014, coinciding with the birth centenary of Zainul Abedin, the pioneer of modern art movement of Bangladesh, by hosting a group paintings exhibition of the post-graduate students of the Institute of Fine Arts of the University of Chittagong as a tribute to the maestro.[5]

Departments

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  • Parampara (পরম্পরা) - gallery and event space
  • Komal Gandhar (কোমল গান্ধার) - music and films archive
  • Bishaud Bangla (বিশদ বাঙলা) - souvenir shop
  • Chatok Cafe (চাতক ক্যাফে) - food and drinks cafe

Activities

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Bistaar organizes art activities like visual art exhibitions, presentations, workshops, film screenings, concerts, dance demonstrations, plays, literary sessions etc. all year round.[2] In addition to these, it also arranges a yearly festival named Bistaar Shilpa Utshab (or Bistaar Arts Festival).[7][8][9]

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Komal Gandhar - music and films archive

Chatok Cafe

References

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  1. ^ "Arts Management Caselet Project". art-x.co. ArtX. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b c ASEF (August 2016). "Bistaar: Chittagong Arts Complex - Building an Arts Institution in Chittagong". Arts Management: Challenges and Learning from 7 Cultural Organisations in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan (PDF). Asia–Europe Foundation. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. ^ Wahid, Shahnoor. "Bistaar: Story of an intimate arts space". No. 16 November 2019. Bangladesh Post. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  4. ^ Francis Morgan (2017). Vacation Goose Travel Guide Chittagong Bangladesh. Soffer Publishing. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b Pranabesh Chakraborty (2 January 2015). "Chittagong gets new arts complex, Bistaar". The Daily Star. Chittagong. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  6. ^ চট্টগ্রামে বিস্তারের নবযাত্রা [Bistaar's new journey in Chittagong]. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  7. ^ Ahmed Munir (9 January 2016). বিস্তারের শিল্পোৎসবে শিল্পের বিস্তার [Expansion of arts at Bistaar's arts festival]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  8. ^ নূপুরের ঝংকারে সমাপ্ত হলো বিস্তার শিল্পোৎসব [Bistaar Silpautsav has been concluded by musical climax]. Dainik Purbokone (in Bengali). 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  9. ^ Shahriar, Amir Hasan (30 December 2017). "Bistaar's three-day Arts Festival in Chittagong". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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