“….. in India, the greatest efflorescence of a national Art has been associated with the employment of the artistic genius to illustrate or adorn the thoughts and fancies or the temples and instruments of the national religion. This was not because Art is necessarily associated with the outward forms of religion, but because it was in the religion that men’s spiritual aspirations centered themselves.”  -Sri Aurobindo,(National Value of Art)

As a mark of celebrating the 150th Birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society organized launched a special program National Capacity Building Program for Artist & Cultural Professionals on 1st June, 2023 at Sri Aurobindo Society, 11, Saint Martin Street, Union Territory of Puducherry, India. Art in its nature is universal which has always been a creative way to present the integral vision through the ages. An artist fosters creativity and intellectual insights into society at large. In the words of Sri Aurobindo ‘It is so far true that an artist can out of a thing that is ugly, repellent, distorted create a form of aesthetic power, intensity, revelatory force.’ There is a need for the preservation of this rich heritage for sustainability.

On this occasion, Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society welcomed the artists and said that the National Capacity Building Program for Artists & Cultural Professionals is a strategy to provide a platform for creative expression and capacity building. He mentioned the vision of Maharshi Aurobindo on the National Value of Art including “….. in India, the greatest efflorescence of a national Art has been associated with the employment of the artistic genius to illustrate or adorn the thoughts and fancies or the temples and instruments of the national religion. Further, he mentioned the creativity and sustainability of art by including local resources and communities and bringing in lived experiences also to drive the holistic enhancement followed by theoretical and practical sessions.

The capacity building program focussed on specific areas including Diversity of cultural expressions, national value of art, promotion of art, entrepreneurship, art education and Creative Art Industry and Sustainability. Shri Lalit Verma, President, Aurodhan Art Gallery, Puducherry & Shri Raghavan Nagarajan, Art Director, Sculpture & Painter, Tamilnadu spoke on ‘Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the Value of Art.’  Dr. P.V. Bose, Principal, Bharathiar Centre for Performing Arts, Puducherry and Dr. Gopal Jayraman, Regional Director, IGNCA, Puducherry Regional Centre, Ministry of Culture, Delhi shared important views on the Appreciation and Promotion of Art & Culture: Integral Approach. Ms. Sithara Nair Gerdes. Secretary, Crafts Council of Puducherry & Shri Dinesh Kumar, Founder, Sangamam Global Academy, Puducherry informed about the entrepreneurship and Development in cultural and creative sectors. Dr. R. Rajendran, Director, Assist 

World Records Research Centre, Puducherry spoke on Art Education and International Understanding.  Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, AuroBharati,  Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry spoke on Creative Art Industry, Capacity Building and Sustainability. The sessions were followed by Interaction and Group Discussion with the artist community.

Identifying individual artists and creative entrepreneurs with the objective of strengthening the creative economy with the development of talent and creative entrepreneurs is one of the focused areas of this workshop. This will also include professional development and a capacity-building program for regional artists of all disciplines and to create a local artist ecosystem. The initial stage will cover community engagement events designed to simultaneously engage in the creative community.

As part of the capacity-building program, an exhibition comprising selected artworks by the eminent artist was organized. Approximately eighty artists participated in the program and shared their valuable ideas on art and sustainability.