Madhubani: The district administration, in collaboration with Mithila Chitrakala Sansthan, will launch the ‘Madhubani Arts’ e-commerce portal on Aug 15 to mark the Independence Day. The initiative aims to connect Mithila’s rich artistic and cultural heritage with national and international markets, enabling local artists to directly benefit from the sale of their artworks.The digital platform will serve as an online marketplace for the region’s renowned Madhubani paintings and other traditional art forms. It is designed to expand market access for local artists while ensuring transparency and quality standards.Artworks listed on the portal will be classified into three categories, Mithila Heritage, Mithila Signature and Mithila Classic, based on quality. An evaluation committee will assess submissions through a barcode-based online system to ensure standardised and transparent appraisal. Every artwork displayed on the portal will be authenticated by Mithila Chitrakala Sansthan, and buyers will receive a certificate guaranteeing its authenticity and quality.The portal will offer end-to-end support for artists, including faceless artwork submission, digital artist profiles, live demonstrations, and SMS/email updates. Integrated services for framing, packaging and delivery will also be available. A dedicated mobile application is being developed to further enhance convenience for artists.Designed as a multilingual platform, the portal will support Hindi, English and Maithili, allowing users to access services in their preferred language. The platform incorporates technologies such as AI, Generative AI and Blockchain, and will be hosted at the State Data Centre to ensure data security and reliability.Online transactions will be facilitated through the SBI Payment Gateway. An MoU has been signed with the Postal department for the safe and systematic delivery of artworks, while the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is providing technical support for the platform’s development and implementation.In the first phase, priority will be given to artworks created by current and former students of Mithila Chitrakala Sansthan. Subsequently, state-and national-level award-winning artists, along with other eligible creators, will be onboarded.A district administration release issued on Monday said the initiative seeks to integrate Mithila’s art and artists into the digital economy by expanding market access and creating greater economic opportunities.
