VAST

Category: Stories

Posted On: September 27th, 2018

Voluntary Artists Studio, Thimphu popularly known as VAST was set up in 1998 by a group of professional artists as a not-for profit organization with the primary aim to provide opportunity to the Bhutanese youth to participate and develop their potential artistic talents especially in contemporary art, develop sense of social responsibilities through community services and also to explore art as a vocation. VAST aims help by:

• Providing art classes to the interested youth.
• Organizing art camps for youth to appreciate art and learn values.
• Initiating programmes related to community services to learn the art-of-giving.
• Facilitating the participation of young artist in national and international art exchange programmes, festivals, and exhibitions.
• Providing a place for youths with personal problems to use art as a therapy and help them develop life skills to face the challenges.

Their project will address youth in Thimphu, Trashi Yangtse and Dagana by:

• Training 100 students in contemporary art
• Conducting two youth art exchange camps
• Holding two national art exhibitions
• And producing a documentary film on contemporary art in Bhutan and its effects on the youth.

During the initial quarter of implementation, the project has identified 62 children from financially challenged backgrounds to undergo weekend art classes. Collaboration with the Thimphu Thromde has been sought.  2 youth are mentoring the students during the classes and have already observed tremendous interest and behavioral changes in the students