Charupith

ss of nature. It leads society to the path of peace and plenty. Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin had understood the full implication of this idea and had founded an art institution in East Bengal in 1948 after the partition of India. The institution is now the Faculty of Fine Art of the University of Dhaka. With a very similar desire, art classes for children began in 1985 on the 1st floor of the old and abandoned building of Jessore M. Later Charupith began its activities on 53 decimals of land in Munshi Meherullah Road, next to Jessore Club. This introduced a new chapter in the history of Bangladesh art. The seed of art has to be sown in childhood. The artistic perception sown in the soft heart of the child will flourish and gradually overcome the boundaries of family, society, nation, and time and flow into the international arena. This is the concept which makes Charupith conduct art schools for children in Jessore town and five villages in its surroundings. The curriculum stresses the importance of the freedom of children’s creativity, their enjoyment and the study of nature. It creates the environment for children to grow up within an atmosphere of Bengali festivities and celebrations. Exhibitions and competitions, the opportunity to participate in national and international festivals and the unlimited scope of a digital art library opens up for them the opportunity for a creative and enlightened life. Almost eight thousand children have participated in the art world of colors and forms of Charupith to date. Many of them have completed or are in the process of completing higher education in art institutions at home and abroad. Many have successfully entered into a variety of creative professions. Charupith has introduced Poush Mela (winter fair) in winter, Basanta Utshab (spring festival) in spring, Barshamangal Utshab (monsoon festival) in monsoon, Ghuri Utshab (kite festival) in early autumn, Gorugari Shobhajatra (cow cart rally) in late autumn and Nabanna Utshab (harvest festival) so that the entire country is involved in the festivities centered on the six seasons of Bangladesh. The greatest success of Charupith is transforming the Bengali New Year festivities into a mega event. Charupith has united urban and rural traditions and developed a successful festival involving Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and all the diverse people of Bengal. The rally on the occasion of the Bengali New Year, Mangal Shobhajatra, which was an innovation of Charupith is today a national event. Masks, crowns, traditional dolls, designs, music, dance and humor presents Bengali culture in all its majesty and the festival has gradually become recognized as a form of art at the national level. The Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University, the University of Development Alternative in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Khulna Universities and all other art schools and colleges have institutionalized the festival. Rooted in the colorful life of the peasants of 68 thousand villages of Bangladesh, this festival continues to grow in popularity. Charupith has innovated ‘Creative exercise curriculum’ for the primary and lower secondary school curriculum. This focuses on the carefree creativity of children on the one hand and the development of technical skills on the other. This spontaneous subject will enrich and add meaning to our education system and help overcome its deficiencies. Charupith has also taken initiatives to continue the traditional needle art of women through workshops, competitions and various development activities. Charupith houses a spacious modern gallery space where more than 150 exhibitions in different media have been organized so far. These exhibitions have received appreciation from connoisseurs and art lovers. Charupith Art Gallery will play an active role by holding national and international exhibitions in the future. Charupith is mainly dedicated to art practice. Art practice and research are closely intertwined. Studio space is essential for an artist’s research. Charupith has sculpture, printmaking, painting and craft studios which artists can use on a regular basis. Charupith Art Research Center grants a residential art research fellowship each year to support serious research activities. Charupith is also the first institution to provide fellowships to artists. Moreover, Charupith is making untiring efforts to instill aesthetic sensitivity among common people living in urban areas by establishing sculptures in various urban centers of the country. These sculptures add a new dimension and meaning to the monotony of urban living. Charupith Art Library holds a collection of a thousand books, slides, projector, computers and internet connection. This supports the study of aesthetics and art theory and aids in the introduction to world art. Charupith has taken the initiatives to increase the number of books in its library as well as other means to enrich it further. One of the important long term plans of Charupith is to develop an artist’s village. Its center will be in an idyllic rural environment, rich in traditional agricultural products, fruit bearing plants, ponds full of fish, etc. It will also house local craft production centers, art school for children, studio facilities for artists, library and activities to celebrate a variety of folk festivals. Charupith Art Research Center has grown steadily in the past 25 years. It is now a complete institution, a model. It is hoped that Charupith will continue its journey to connect art to every aspect of society and life in the years to follow.