LAHORE - The fourth annual national art competition and exhibition Artbeat opened yesterday at Alhamra Art Gallery, Mall Road. The exhibition will continue until October 3.
Artbeat is the image art project of The Little Art (a non-profit organization working for promotion of arts and crafts among children) to create awareness about social justice and promoting young rising talent .This year theme of the exhibition was ‘Kaisa Pakistan’.
Artworks from over 210 schools and 25 organisation from across Pakistan were received for the exhibition from the Lahore region, which includes Lahore, Sheikhpura, Okara, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan and Sadiqabad.
The jury selected 400 artworks and 15winners for the gallery exhibition this year. 6,000 artworks were submitted this year. According to organizers it took them four months to arrange this event. 400 children from 210 schools participated.
The competition was open and for the children and young talent of 3 to18 years of age. There were 32 cash prizes in the competition for all age groups, including fully sponsored participation of two artists from Pakistan in the Sharjah International Biennial for Children's Arts. The children artwork on display attracted a lot of people from the cities mentioned above.
Asghar nadeem syed (short story writer), Qudsia Rahim (Executive Director Lahore Biennale Foundation), Saima Anwar (Education Advisor Lacas), Sadia Khalid (Head of Co-curricular activities DHA) were guests of honour at the inauguration.
Talking to The Nation Director The Little Art Shoaib Iqbal said he felt proud of the fact that they were pioneers in the field. “When we started holding the film festival for children there was no such activity in the country. We organise such exhibitions to art and spirit of competition among the children. Such practice broadens their vision. This event serves as a platform for them to learn and express through visual arts.
“We work with children and young adults irrespective of their social and economic background, from school going to street children, with special needs or children in shelter homes. The feedback and the quality of artworks received are amazingly good,” Iqbal was of the view.
“I thank The Little Art for making such platform for the children. They are doing tremendous job for the young talent and their contribution must be appreciated. We will continue to support them in their future endeavours,” Saima Anwar said.