Bharatiya Bidya Niketan Gurukul

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA will engage third to eighth-grade students of the Bharatiya Bidya Niketan Gurukul, in Kalimela, Malkangiri district. This 15-month project titled Children's Art Museum: Celebrating Tribal Art through Young Creators offers a unique way for children to connect with and appreciate indigenous cultures of Koya, Paroja and Gadabas tribal communities. This project aims to establish a community art museum within the school campus. For this project Jiban Krushna Das, President of the organisation is the signatory, and Susanta Kumar Panda will be the Project Facilitator.

With its dedicated faculty, comprehensive library, and focus on accessibility, Bharatiya Bidya Niketan Kalimela Gurukul is a primary school located in the village of Kalimela, Odisha. Established in 2012, this co-educational institution provides a comprehensive learning environment for young minds. Its commitment to providing a holistic learning experience equips its students with the necessary skills and knowledge for a brighter future. This project, rooted in the study and creation of tribal art, serves as a tribute to their backgrounds and a powerful way to cultivate pride and a sense of belonging. Given their experience, Bharatiya Bidya Niketan Gurukul is best placed to be the Project Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA.

This 15-month project is envisioned to immerse students in the beauty, history, and cultural significance of tribal art forms, and will culminate in a vibrant exhibition that showcases their collective efforts. The school has a committed project team which consists of eager teachers, students, and volunteers. This group will undertake extensive research to learn more about the cultural relevance of numerous tribal art forms of the state. Further, this project will be executed through workshops, creation of artworks and the final exhibition. 

Regarding the first phase of the project, a series of workshops will be organised led by local tribal artists and teachers to introduce students to Koya, Paroja and Gadabas tribal art forms. These proposed workshops are designed to engage students in the rich cultural heritage of their own community. These engagements will also offer hands-on experience to learn the complicated techniques and symbolism behind these art forms encouraging a deep appreciation for their cultural identity. These workshop aims to empower them by promoting their ancestral knowledge, while also providing them with the skills to potentially pursue careers in the arts. This initiative is integral to the overall objective of the art museum, which seeks to create a vibrant space for cultural expression and learning within the school. 

In the art creation phase, community artists and students will create artworks inspired by their heritage. Not confined to the traditional understanding this engagement will be a process allowing the teachers and students to explore and express themselves creatively. Ultimately, the project seeks to empower students academically and culturally, instilling a sense of pride and belonging in their unique identity. Throughout the project period, students will connect to the tremendous richness of the indigenous practices and knowledge systems within their community. In continuation, teachers and children will maintain journals to document their experiences. 

The outcome of the project will be a museum and a publication. While the museum will display the visual and unique perspectives on the tribal arts, the booklet will serve as a documented record of the explorations, insights, and artistic endeavors of students through images, stories and interviews with the community members The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA along with the final report are copies of the publication, photographs and the video documentation of the entire project.

This project suitably addresses the framework of IFA’s Arts Education programme in the manner in which it attempts to connect students and schools to the cultural knowledge of the places they inhabit. 

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.