The Ministry of Culture held two major programmes in early September 2026 to shape the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM). These events brought together craftspeople, manufacturers, technology providers and museum specialists to contribute ideas and solutions for what will be a landmark national cultural institution.
What happened and who participated
The first programme, Shilpkar Samagam, took place on 2–3 September 2026 at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. It focused on integrating India’s craft traditions into the Museum’s design and spaces. Over 150 master artisans, craft practitioners and institutions participated. More than 100 master artisans displayed their work across diverse fields including textiles, metalwork, woodcraft, stone carving, ceramics, bamboo and cane work, and traditional painting traditions. The event included thematic sessions, workshops and consultations to identify how traditional crafts could be woven into the Museum’s galleries, interiors and public spaces.
The second programme, the Vendor Development Programme, ran on 7–8 September 2026. It brought together approximately 200 firms and organisations from India and abroad representing museum technology, design, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Participants included suppliers of display cases, lighting systems, conservation materials, digital technologies, security systems, environmental controls and exhibition design services. The event featured 70 capability presentations by firms and facilitated 200 bilateral meetings between vendors, project consultants and designers. Additionally, 80 focused discussions explored Make in India opportunities, localisation possibilities and technology transfer arrangements.
Key outcomes included the formation of working groups for continued artisan engagement, identification of potential craft and technology partners, and creation of a vendor database to guide future procurement for the Museum project.
What this means for you
If you are a craftsperson or run a small heritage enterprise, the YYBM project now has formal pathways for your work and skills to contribute to a major national institution. If you work in museum technology or manufacturing, India is positioning itself as both a market for world-class museum solutions and a potential hub for designing and exporting such products globally. For visitors and citizens, the Museum aims to blend India’s civilisational heritage with international standards in exhibition design and immersive experience.