The Kangra Arts Promotion Society (KAPS), an NGO at Dharamshala,
Himachal Pradesh is working for the promotion of Kangra miniature
paintings which is on the verge of extinction today. The objectives of
KAPS are preservation of the arts of Kangra, encouragement of existing
artists, starting a school to teach the arts of Kangra and building a
treasure of old and new paintings. In addition to running a school to
train the youth of Himachal Pradesh in this art, KAPS also runs
workshops where genuine Kangra Paintings are made on traditional hand
made paper using only mineral and vegetable colours.
In continuation to its efforts for promotion of art, KAPS in
association with Voice of Himachal, is organising a 3 day arts
appreciation course from June 23rd till 26th. Participants will get an
opportunity to meet and interact with the famous Kangra master artist
Mr. Vijay Sharma who is a distinguished art critic and has written the
first-ever Hindi book tracing the history, expansion and other aspects
of Kangra paintings, titled ‘Kangra Ki Chitrankan Parampara’. He
received the National Award in 1990.
The master artists Mr. Dhani Ram and Mr. Mukesh Kumar will conduct the
workshop and take participants through the intricacies of Kangra
paintings. Mr Dhani Ram trains the students at the Chitera School of
Art, conducting classes at the Kangra Art Museum while Mr Mukesh
conducts his advanced classes at the Chamunda Devi temple.
Dr Gautam Vyathit, a renowned authority on folk arts and culture and
Mr B.K. Agarwal, the Principal Resident Commissioner of the State of
Himachal Pradesh in Delhi will also share their experiences and
thoughts on this miniature art form.
The course is being organised in a beautifully located campus, 6 kms
from Dharamshala town. The campus offers all modern amenities to the
participants including a training hall, cottages and a well equipped
dinning hall. The course will be structured in a manner that
participants will get ample opportunity to learn the art as well as
visit places of interest in and around Dharamshala. Spread over 3 days
the course will come as a welcome respite to people looking forward to
an escape from the heat during this great Indian summer.
For more details please visit http://bit.ly/iJTJaE
