The Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST)
Bhutan The Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST)
was established in 1998 by a group of working Artists using the Artshop
Gallery as its base. It is a small independent / informal artist's
guild with the explicit mission of promoting the importance and value
of visual art. The overall aim is to provide an opportunity to school
children to participate and develop their talents as well as share
social responsibilities through artistic actions. VAST
is quite unique because in the schools in Buthan, art-education is
not included in the curriculum and there are hardly any independent
artists; most people work for state-owned enterprises or in agriculture.
VAST organizes free weekend classes to interested young children from
various schools in Thimphu. In addition art camps and excursions,
art talks, art exhibitions and art projects for promotion of issues
related to health and environment are also organized regularly.
Often, the art projects are combined with rendering community services.
Like the Mural Painting at the Children Park at the JDWNR Hospital.
30 VAST students helped design and paint this park during their winter
vacation. VAST also has been actively involved in cleanup campaigns
and restoration works of Chhortens in the Thimphu Valley. These kind
of activities not only provide the students with an opportunity to
paint fresh landscapes and traditional Chhortens and monasteries,
it also familiarizes them with traditional Bhutanese architecture
and makes them aware of the natural heritage of our country.
Selection of participants is based on individual aptitude and interest
in art irrespective of race, religion and sex. But special consideration
is provided for young people with disability and low income group.
Originally, VAST planned on having 40 children in its programme, but
the overwhelming enthousiasm resulted in a participation of 150 children
and even then there are children on the waiting list.
The main objective of the art camps is to introduce and explore the
inter-connection between art, culture, nature, and traditions and
also to share VAST activities with other young interested art enthusiasts
from the locality where the camp is held. The participants normally
visit Heritage Centers, historical places and traditional art workshops/institutes,
conduct art lessons in the schools and undertake nature walks combined
with sketching, photo mediation and video recording etc. The participants
will also observe the traditional architecture and paintings wherever
possible. Moments of Joy paid for a complete art camp.
