Though the Drik Gallery was opened in August 1993 with the first showing of World Press Photo in Bangladesh, there is a story behind the scenes. We were in the midst of a massive democratic movement in the late eighties. On the streets, through curfews and through tear gas, we were documenting events in their entirety. Throughout this period, the major galleries, either state owned or belonging to foreign embassies, were not prepared to exhibit our work, since it was 'political'. We knew we had to build our own gallery. The first ever staging of World Press provided the perfect opportunity. We gathered our resources and built what is now, one of the finest galleries in South Asia and the largest private gallery in Bangladesh.


The gallery, split into two levels (on the first and second floor of the building), has permanent wall space measuring 446 running feet. Its total floor area is 2,796 square feet.

List of prominent national and international shows:

• Group photography exhibition : Borders and Beyond, Nature's Fury, Positive Lives, Remaking Destiny, Seeing with a Different Eye, Tales from a Globalizing World, The War We Forgot, World Press Photo.
• Solo photography exhibition : Abir Abdullah, Shahidul Alam, Reza Deghati, Roshini Kempadoo, Pedro Meyer, Joel Meyerowitz, Manzoor Alam Beg, Golam Kasem, Martin Parr, Raghu Rai, Sebastiao Salgado.
• Painting and Sculpture : Polly Hope, Saeeda Kamal, Hamiduzzaman Khan, Nasima Khan, Nadia Andaleeb Preema, Abu Selim.
• Workshops : Centre for Asian Theatre, Autograph London.
• Cartoon : Naji al-Ali, International Feminist Cartoon Exhibition.

Contact email

office@drik.net

Rate (based on duration)

Upon selection, artists/organizers shall be required to make a deposit of a non-refundable amount of 30% of gallery hire charges for a confirmed booking. This deposit shall be adjusted against the total charges, if Drik gallery is used. The rest of the amount (70%) shall need to be paid before the exhibition/event starts. One art piece chosen by the artist/organizer shall be kept for Drik gallery free of any cost, unless the exhibition is a touring one. Any replica or the copy shall be kept from touring exhibitions at the cost of the artist/organizers. The hire charges for Drik gallery for holding local exhibitions are presently as follow:

Gallery 1

	DURATION	CHARGE IN TAKA
	05 days	12,000/=
	Each day following the first 05 days	1,800/=
	Each day following the first 10 days	1,500/=

Gallery 2

	DURATION	CHARGE IN TAKA
	05 days	18,000/=
	Each day following the first 05 days	2,700/=
	Each day following the first 10 days	2,250/=

Minimum five days' booking recommended for any public shows. Weekends and holidays are included; during weekends and Govt. holidays Drik gallery may be kept open. Generally, exhibitions at Drik gallery are held public and on free admission. Arrangements and transactions must be made with Tanvir Murad Topu. Local payments need to be made preferably in cheque. On receipt of the first deposit, Tanvir shall confirm the booking by returning a signed copy of the request form. Drik gallery can be rented for any event like photo-contests, discussion meetings, seminars, workshop and training sessions. Rates for such events and international exhibitions and the relevant changes in general 'Rules' shall be separately determined.

Terms and condition

Artists/organizers willing to rent Drik gallery for exhibitions shall need to submit an application along with the prescribed request form, available at Drik office and on the web, and the requested documents. For selection, they may need to present a sample set of original exhibits that will represent the exhibition or any requested materials in support of their proposed events.

Before final contract, artists/organisers are requested to go through and comply with the detailed 'Terms and Conditions'.

Completing setting up the exhibits at Drik gallery 3 hours prior to the opening and removing those immediately after the exhibition ends is the sole responsibility of artists/organisers. Drik gallery shall remain open and free for setting up the exhibition from the early hours of the first day of the booking. However, on request one (1) free day may be awarded for setting up the exhibition if Drik gallery remains free.

During exhibitions, Drik gallery opens at 1500 hours and closes at 2000 hours and visitors shall be discouraged at the entrance at the ground floor from 1945 hours. It is hoped that artists/organisers shall help in evacuating Drik gallery of the guests after the official time (2000 hours). Ideally at 2015 hours all inside lights shall be put off. In case stay for longer hours is required, a prior arrangement and an additional charge of Tk. 250 (for gallery 1) and 350 (Gallery 2) shall apply for each hour or fraction of an hour of stay.

Email circulars shall be issued by Tanvir Murad Topu on the exhibition/event to Drik gallery's egroup network and leading media. Artists/organisers are requested to supply at least a number of 250 invitation cards and adequate sets of promotional materials like brochures for the media, which Tanvir shall distribute within Dhaka only if Tanvir hold those seven working days to the exhibition.

For security, the artists/organisers need to make necessary number of persons available during exhibition-hours and at least one person before the opening everyday. Tanvir shall make additionally one person available. Though DRIK provides 24-hour security on the premises, it is recommended, valuable items are separately insured. Under no circumstances should captions accompanying the artworks be stuck to the wall.

& Tanvir retains the rights to hold discussion meetings, training sessions, workshops or any public event inside Drik gallery beyond the agreed exhibition hours during any period of booking. After prior information to the artists/organisers, Tanvir may take photographs and make videos of the exhibits for promotional and archival purposes.

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