Bishop Cotton School (BCS) Shimla, students were lucky enough to join the Auramah Valley Country Estate Arts Festival (curated by ‘The Create Studio’ a creative domain based in New Delhi, India, that provides professional art education with hands-on experience by practicing professional artists) and learn from the artists staying in Shimla for the weekend. (*details of the artists in PDF attached) Twenty-four lucky budding artists from Bishop Cotton School, together with 27 girls from the local orphanage, had fun learning from the experts as they painted the beautiful valley scenery under the watchful eye of the artists.
The art workshop held in the stunning Naldehra countryside, was the concept of Old Cottonian, and Entrepreneur, Manav Singh, who wanted to expose the children to the delights of the world of art and the beauty of nature. The artists from all over India took small groups of children during the morning workshop that was followed by a picnic in the pine forest. Manav Singh said; “The artists absolutely loved spending time and being outdoors with the children, they were inspired by them and found it a very meaningful experience too.” Detailed close-up studies of plants and flowers as well as the sweeping landscapes were drawn and painted by the children in various mediums including pastels, watercolours and charcoal. The hands-on interactive engagement with these young curious minds brought in an atmosphere of freshness and creative joy for the artists including the onlookers.
Bishop Cotton School, Shimla is one of the oldest residential boys’ schools in Asia (founded 1859) and has played a key part in shaping the development of public schools and education in India as well as producing a host of well-known and successful alumni.
