TEHRAN -- Iran’s first virtual art gallery website was launched during a ceremony held at the Iranian Artists Forum on Saturday.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati who purchased the first artwork, a calligraphic-painting by Ghaffar Qanbarpur worth 70 million rials (about $2000), Persian media reported on Sunday.

Speaking at the ceremony, the director of the gallery’s policy-making council Jamal Hadian said that the gallery has been launched promoting the motto “An Original is Better than a Copy”, adding, “The gallery is not only intended for the display or sale of artworks; it also aims to function as a good databank for the artists. 

“Based on the gallery’s statute, part of the revenue from sales will be dedicated to those artists suffering from rare and incurable diseases,” he added.

He also said that the gallery offers artworks in four categories of painting, calligraphy, sculpture and manuscript, adding, “Rare and valuable manuscripts kept by individuals can be posted for sale by them on the virtual gallery’s website.”

In addition, the website holds a great sale every season for interested visitors.

The minister also in his brief words praised the move, calling it a great idea established by the private sector to promote visual arts.

“A great number of people are not able to purchase artworks even at lower prices, but they enjoy looking at them. This gallery helps artworks go on display and the public sectors can support and purchase the artworks, which they can use to decorate a number of large rooms,” the minister said.

Virtual art galleries can display ten times more works than the other physical galleries and offer comprehensive information about the art and the artists, the minister concluded.

RM/YAW