Celebration of Art and Culture

The joys of childhood lie in small pleasures – of being creatively engaged and playing roles which makes a big difference in their growing years. Therefore, creating a platform to involve them in innovative yet creative formats etches endearing memories for the child. ‘The Children’s Fine Art Gallery’ (an initiative of Daira Centre for Arts and Culture) gears up to this challenge each year to host its annual ‘Children's Art Festival’.

‘The Children's Art Festival’ started in the year 2017. Atika Amjad director of ‘Children's Fine Art Gallery’, says, “‘The Children’s Art Festival 2019’, Season III, is a celebration of art and culture which engages children in an array of innovative art-based activities, laced with fun and learning. This three-day fest will bring under one roof 5000+ children, reputed mentors, art practitioners, teachers, associates of the art fraternity and a huge number of parents and guests.”

What is this festival all about? She says, “A string of art related activities and workshops, captivating displays, engaging installations are conceived and planned to stimulate young minds.” “Around thirty-five plus elements are planned to engage children and that is not just fun but a great learning resource. For instance, the ‘Amar Chitra Katha’ will showcase its history and evolution and their popular artist Savio Mascarenhas, the creator of ‘Shikari Shambu’ will be present to interact with the audience.

The festival’s prime showcase – ‘Lavender’ and the ‘Children’s Fine Art Gallery’s’ appreciation programme adopted by the ‘Teach for India Schools’. Inter displays will have installations like the ‘Knowledge Tree’, ‘Bioscopes’, ‘The Jamini Roy Jungle’, ‘The Thota Vaikuntam Sanctuary’, ‘Art on the Move’ and ‘Daira-Decathlon Art Gallery: Glow in the Dark’. A huge list of workshops and performances will be conducted by proficient and creative partners like Heartfulness, Wildlife SOS, Kids Engage, Prajna and others,” Atika Adds.

The vision of this event is to ignite creativity in every child and let them feel the joy of making things with hands in an era of digital transformation. Atika concludes by saying, “This event will see a congregation of children from different strata. A cover ticket of Rs. 200/- covers workshops, activities and displays. But, for the underprivileged schools’ entry is totally free. The last year’s festival attracted close to 4000 children but a major percentage of children. This event will succeed only if the local community participates in its creative endeavours.”