A GALLERY PERFORMS SEVERAL CRUCIAL FUNCTION - FROM PROVIDNG the space for mounting art to creating a discerning audience for a variety of art genres. Apart from being the prime actors facilitating the commerce of art, gallerists with vision can shape the arts cape of a region in definitive ways. Quite a few gallery initiatives in India, Pakistan and China have re-invented themselves over the last five years to meet the challenges of a transforming world. Many state-supported public galleries in India, of course, have refused to grow.

In this issue, we take a comprehensive look at gallery initiatives that make a difference to the ways in which we respond to art. There are nine Lead Features this time - Meera Menezes captures the burgeoning gallery scene in Delhi as Gitanjali Dang visits Mumbai's leading exhibition spaces. Geeta Doctor informs us about the nurturing role galleries play in Chennai while Sandhya Bordewekar traces the history of such initiatives in Baroda. Marta Jakimowicz re-introduces us to Bangalore's gallery network and Anirudh Chari tells us why he is dissatisfied with the art shown in Kolkata. Niharika Dinkar visits the spaces featuring Indian art in New York as Rajesh Punj speaks to some of the movers and shakers in London and Karen Smith writes about the infrastructure for the arts in Beijing and Shanghai. Quddus Mirza in his Letter from Pakistan holds forth on the 'gallery-system' in Pakistan as exhibition designer Mark Prime speaks to Zehra Jumabhoy about the nature of his interventions.

As always, we carry several International Reviews, Special Reports and Reviews.

Thanks for responding with enthusiasm to The Art Market issue. Do write in to tell us what you think of this one.

Warm Regards,

- Abhay Sardesai