Public Art
Commissioned work in civic and open settings.
About
Building Spaces for Art, Ideas & Collaboration
Arcus Collective is building a long-term platform for artists, thinkers, writers and cultural practitioners to create, collaborate and share ideas through public art, creative programmes, residencies and meaningful cultural experiences.
Why Arcus Exists
Arcus was founded to establish a rigorous cultural platform rooted in Mangalore while engaging a wider creative landscape. The initiative supports sustained artistic practice, regional scholarship and long-horizon institutional work, rather than short-cycle programming. It strengthens contemporary cultural discourse while remaining attentive to heritage, public dialogue and local knowledge systems. Through continuity, partnerships and thoughtful commissioning, Arcus seeks to shape a lasting framework for artistic work that travels across contexts.
Our Vision
Arcus envisions a connected cultural ecosystem where artistic inquiry, heritage knowledge and contemporary practice are developed with continuity, critical depth and institutional care.
Our Mission
Arcus advances this vision by commissioning work, convening interdisciplinary programmes, supporting artists and building durable partnerships that expand access to high-quality cultural initiatives across communities.
Founder’s Perspective
Arcus was initiated as a long-form commitment to cultural memory, artistic vocabulary and institution-building that can sustain serious work across generations. For me, this is not only a programme agenda but a philosophical position — Akhter-ism in practice — where art, learning and heritage are treated as interdependent civic responsibilities.
Dr. Akhter Husain · Founder
Areas of Engagement
Cultural Programming
Structured annual programmes across formats.
Creative Placemaking
Spatial interventions with long-term relevance.
Curated Environments
Thoughtfully designed settings for artistic encounter.
Curated Table Experiences
Intimate gatherings at the intersection of art and hospitality.
Art Retreats
Focused residencies for study, process and exchange.
Workshops
Practice-led sessions with artists and facilitators.
Arts & Wellbeing
Programmes supporting reflection, restoration and care.
Community Engagement
Neighbourhood-facing initiatives and shared participation.
Leadership & Resident Artists
Founders
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Dr. Akhter Husain
Founder
Artist • Academic • Innovator
Dr. Akhter Husain provides the intellectual and artistic direction of Arcus Collective. His interdisciplinary practice, framed through Akhter-ism, bridges public art, pedagogy and heritage inquiry. He has shaped Arcus as a long-term initiative committed to regional scholarship, institutional rigor and the cultivation of serious contemporary artistic practice.
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Najib Bava
Co-Founder
Creative Director • Brand Strategist • Hospitality Curator
Najib Bava leads the experiential direction of Arcus, integrating brand strategy, hospitality thinking and programme design. His work focuses on placemaking, partnerships and communications that translate curatorial intent into memorable visitor journeys. He develops platforms where artistic practice, institutional collaboration and thoughtful hosting come together with clarity and emotional resonance.
Resident Artists
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Jayraj Patil
Resident Artist
Architect • Artist • Filmmaker
Jayraj Patil works across architecture, visual art and documentary filmmaking. His practice explores spatial storytelling through site-based observation, material research and collaborative production. At Arcus, he contributes to public art development, cross-disciplinary projects and narrative frameworks that connect built form, moving image and regional memory with strong conceptual coherence.
Visiting Artists
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Apoorv Dutt
Visiting Artist
Artist • Illustrator • Visual Storyteller
Apoorv Dutt develops visual narratives through illustration, drawing and design-led inquiry. His work brings together storytelling, workshop facilitation and design thinking to support participatory artistic processes. Within Arcus, he contributes to programme interpretation, collaborative studio formats and communication artefacts that make complex ideas accessible for wider audiences without diluting their depth.
Collaborators
Sanctum
CKP Art Gallery, Bangalore
Coastal Karnataka Arts
Community Patrons
Engage
Participate
Join Arcus through workshops, retreats, curated tables, partnerships and upcoming initiatives.