Over 234 artworks showcased at NCA

LAHORE : The display of over 234 artworks on the themes of autumn, winter, landscape, colors and abstract were showcased at the Zahoor Ul Akhlaq Gallery at National College of Arts (NCA) on Saturday.

The 15th ArtBeat Exhibition opened its doors honouring the exceptional artistic achievements of children of 234 schools and 45 community organisations from across the country.

The exhibition was opened by Prof Sarwat Ali, Head of Studies, and Khalid Ibrahim, Head of Department of Architecture, NCA.

The Jury of the event consisted of Abdul Jabbar Gull (Sculptor and Artist, Karachi), Irfan Gul Dahri (Artist, Art Otaq/Numaish Gah, Lahore), Shireen Bano Rizvi (Department of Visual Arts, National College of Arts, Lahore), Ali Azmat (Artist, College of Art and Design, University of the Punjab), Sajjad Akram (Director, Nukta Studio, Islamabad; NCA Rawalpindi), Kiran Saleem (Visual Artist, Lahore; Department of Fine Arts, NCA Lahore), and Najia Azmat (Visual Artist, Lahore).

In the end, 51 awards were given to contenders of five age groups for their exceptional artistic prowess.

The awards feature creative school award and the teacher’s award of excellence for art teachers, accompanied by appreciation certificates for activity coordinators, embracing inclusivity by awarding 6 national prizes to children with special needs, highlighting the platform’s dedication to honouring talent in diverse forms, tokens of encouragement included gold, silver, and bronze medals for young artists, each reflecting their dedication and unique expression.

Top three winners received tablets alongside trophies, while other prizes encompassed cash rewards, medals, and trophies, commemorating outstanding achievements in the realm of art.

Awais Shafique, Project Manager, maintained: ‘The project underscores the significance of cultivating artistry, allowing each stroke of a paintbrush or creative impulse to weave stories, evoke emotions, and ignite societal discourse.’

The ArtBeat project was initiated in 2012 with a vision to promote visual culture, understanding of issues among children and youth from their own perspective, celebrate children as artists and present children’s views as a point of discourse for adults and the community.

In the past 12 years, nearly 120,000 children have participated as artists in the ArtBeat.