Varanasi: The UP govt will organise three major art workshops and camps in Ayodhya, Lucknow and Varanasi to connect young people with the state’s art, culture and living traditions, while bringing artists from across India onto one platform.The programmes will focus on the cultural traditions of Ram and the Ramayana, folk and traditional painting practices, and the spiritual-cultural heritage of Kashi and the Ganga. They will be held with the support of the State Lalit Kala Akademi and educational institutions, giving young artists and art students opportunities to learn directly from senior practitioners.In Ayodhya, a national workshop and lecture series titled “Ram, Ramayana and Ayodhya” will be held from October 22 to 26 at Ram Ki Paidi and Guptar Ghat. Organised in collaboration with Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, the programme will include 25 artists and 10 experts. It aims to present the cultural heritage of Ram, the Ramayana and Ayodhya, and help young participants understand the city’s vibrant traditions.In Lucknow, the State Lalit Kala Akademi will organise “Lokdhara”, a folk and traditional art camp, from November 18 to 22. The camp will provide a platform for India’s folk and traditional arts, where established artists, students and art lovers can understand, practise and promote traditional forms.Around 35 to 40 folk and traditional art practitioners, including Padma Shri awardees, National Award winners and senior traditional artists, will participate. Twenty-five selected senior art students from Lucknow and nearby institutions will also attend.“Lokdhara” will focus on live art creation, demonstrations, technical learning, practice and mentorship. Artists representing Gond, Bhil, Godna, Pithora, Rajasthani, Kohbar and Madhubani traditions are expected to take part. The five-day camp will open on Nov 18 with the inauguration, studio opening, artist introductions and the start of art creation. On Nov 19, senior artists will conduct live demonstrations and technical interactions. Nov 20 will feature masterclasses, creative practice and guidance sessions. November 21 will include demonstrations on traditional techniques, question-answer sessions and practical learning. The final display, exhibition preview and closing ceremony will be held on Nov 22.In Varanasi, a four-day international art camp and exhibition titled Kashi Flow will be organised on the banks of the Ganga in the second week of Dec. It will be held jointly by Ganga Mahasabha and the State Lalit Kala Akademi. The objective is to express and document Uttar Pradesh’s spiritual and cultural heritage, the Ganga, Kashi and living traditions through art.Artists from Varanasi, Vrindavan, Dehradun, Mathura, Delhi, Jaipur, Bhopal, Odisha, Lakhimpur, Sirsa, Mau, Meerut and other places are expected to participate. Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the govt wants heritage to become part of the lives of artists, students and the public, not remain limited to museums and archives. Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat said the events will create dialogue between tradition, creativity and youth, document art processes, strengthen institutional collaboration and advance the spirit of “Our Culture, Our Strength.”
