LAHORE, July 26: The Lahore Arts Council (LAC) has fixed an internal glass door at the main entrance of the Permanent Art Gallery to stop dust, sunlight and birds from entering the building during gallery’s upgrade and renovation.

In an effort to renovate and promote the Permanent Art Gallery at Alhamra Cultural Complex, Qadhafi Stadium, the LAC management has taken some steps, some of which are good and some need a second thought, sources told Dawn.

They said LAC was getting printed fresh leaflets, broachers and other material for the promotion of the gallery. A proposal is being worked out to hold exhibitions by art institutions in the upper portion of the gallery. The main entrance of the gallery is being widened for a better view of the building.

Sources said installation of a glass door was a valuable step, but it would increase humidity level inside the gallery and harm artworks on display. There are no temperature control units in the gallery and in the absence of proper cooling it would be difficult to manage temperature in the gallery.

Going by standards, 20 to 25 degrees temperature is needed in the gallery. Sources said it was not feasible for the LAC management to run all 11 AC units at a time due to financial constraints therefore the glass door might cause more humidity, which could affect paints, colours and canvasses.

Earlier, Nayyar Ali Dada had recommended that a foyer area should be constructed at the main entrance of the gallery to save it from direct sunlight, but this idea hasn’t been given a practical shape.

The gallery has a collection of 150 artworks -- 142 paintings and eight sculptures -- besides 43 photographs. At least 76 of the 150 paintings are already damaged.