Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport unveils local art collection

Dhaka: Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport has unveiled a new art collection in partnership with Bhumi Gallery, spotlighting Bangladesh's artistic heritage through a curated showcase of works by local creatives.

The collection was unveiled on June 19 during an afternoon gathering at the hotel's spacious lobby cafe, Connexions, which drew members of the diplomatic community, business leaders, art enthusiasts, and figures from the local creative scene.

Rather than treating the artworks as decorative additions, the hotel said the initiative was designed to give local artists a platform and visibility among an international audience that might not otherwise encounter their work.

Guests browsed the collection while a curated high tea added an informal touch to the event, which organizers said felt more like a cultural exchange than a typical hotel showcase.

Ashwani Nayar, Area General Manager for IHG Southwest Asia and Cluster General Manager of Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport and InterContinental Dhaka Airport, said the hotel wanted to move beyond simply displaying art.

He said the goal was to create a setting where artists feel seen and supported, adding that hospitality spaces naturally bring together a global mix of guests, making them a fitting venue to introduce Bangladeshi art without reducing it to a purely commercial asset.

Organizers noted that the event avoided the formality often associated with art unveilings, with conversations flowing informally as the artworks became starting points for discussions about place, memory, and craftsmanship.

With Bhumi Gallery as cultural partner, the initiative reflects a broader push to use hospitality venues as platforms for artistic expression, offering many attending guests their first real introduction to the breadth of Bangladeshi art.

The hotel said the collection will remain on permanent display within the property, continuing to engage visitors long after the unveiling event has concluded.