On 19 August 2026, the Faculty of Fine Arts was formally inaugurated alongside a National Photography Exhibition, "200 Years of Light" — a landmark moment for creative education in Bareilly.
Coverage of the launch of Film Making & Photography education at the Faculty of Fine Arts, and the national exhibition that opened alongside it.
Bareilly International University inaugurated its Faculty of Fine Arts, introducing new courses in Film Making and Photography developed with Delhi's IIP Academy — bringing industry-standard creative training to Bareilly for the first time.
Read full coverage — Amrit Vichar ↗
Fifty photographers from across India came together for an exhibition tracing two centuries of Indian life through the camera lens, presented with IIP Academy and the Lalit Kala Akademi. Free entry, seven photographers felicitated.
Read full coverage — Amrit Vichar ↗Highlights from the inauguration ceremony and the National Photography Exhibition on the BIU campus.
Video coverage of the inauguration and the National Photography Exhibition, as it happened.
Fine Arts launches at BIU — photography to film making, careers in Bareilly | 76-photographer exhibition
Fine Arts begins at BIU — India seen through the lens of 50 photographers | National Photography Exhibition
Front-page coverage of the inauguration and exhibition in Amrit Vichar, Bareilly.
A New Chapter Begins in India — reflections from World Photography Day, as the Faculty of Fine Arts opened its doors.
Today, on World Photography Day, we did more than celebrate an extraordinary journey of nearly two centuries of photography — we opened the doors to its future.
With immense pride, IIP × Bareilly International University inaugurated the Faculty of Fine Arts — envisioned as a centre for education, research, artistic practice, documentation and international creative exchange.
The day began with the ribbon cutting and inauguration of the Faculty, followed by an academy tour, the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and the opening of a Photography Exhibition — bringing together images, ideas, artists and generations.
The vision behind this new institution was introduced by Dr. Partho Kumar, followed by a welcome address from Rajesh Goyal, IIP.
We were privileged to have the presence and words of distinguished leaders and guests:
The occasion also celebrated the photographers whose work gives meaning to this fraternity, with certificates presented to participating photographers by the Chief Guest.
But at the heart of this landmark moment is a deeper tribute.
The Faculty of Fine Arts is dedicated to Shri O. P. Sharma, veteran photographer, mentor and institution-builder, whose association with Triveni Kala Sangam for over four decades represents an extraordinary lifetime committed to photography, art and the nurturing of creative minds.
His journey reminds us that photography is not merely about making images.
It is about preserving time.
Interpreting society.
Documenting culture.
Creating memory.
And allowing one generation to speak to another.
As photography completes an extraordinary journey of almost 200 years, India has an opportunity not merely to participate in its global conversation, but to lead new conversations around visual culture, heritage, identity and knowledge.
That is the larger ambition of the IIP × BIU Faculty of Fine Arts.
To create a destination where photographers, artists, scholars, students and researchers from across the world can come to study, document, research and explore INDIA — its people, its traditions, its landscapes, its architecture, its crafts, its communities and its countless visual narratives.
A place where heritage meets contemporary practice.
Where masters meet young minds.
Where art meets research.
And where India becomes both the subject and the source of a new global visual dialogue.
Today was an inauguration.
Tomorrow begins the journey.
On World Photography Day 2026, our warmest wishes to photographers, visual artists, educators, institutions and storytellers everywhere who continue to teach the world new ways of seeing.
200 Years of Photography.
A legacy to honour.
A future to create.
And an India waiting to be explored.
Admissions are open for the 2026–27 academic session. Speak to our counselling team today.