Voluntary Artists Studio, Thimphu or VAST Bhutan holds a special place in the hearts of many Bhutanese contemporary artists. The studio nurtured and supported the growth of hundreds of them since its inception in 1998. In doing so, VAST Bhutan has played a significant role in promoting contemporary art and artistic talents in the country. As it marks its 25th anniversary this year, the studio is even more determined to encourage, develop, and shape the growth of contemporary Bhutanese art and artists to new heights.
A group of young artists founded the Voluntary Artists Studio, Thimphu to create a platform and provide opportunities to young art enthusiasts.
Back then the studio was located at the Clock Tower.
Over the years, it has sparked the interest of many Bhutanese youths into pursuing art.
The studio, which started with just 80 volunteers has over 10,000 members and volunteers today.
Most of them are youth. The studio is currently housed at Chhubachhu.
The studio continues to play a crucial role in promoting contemporary art in the country through its various contributions, including providing art classes to interested youths.
It also facilitates the participation of young artists in national and international art exchange exhibitions and programmes.
“There are many youngsters who crossed their path with art because of VAST. And VAST Bhutan has given platform for our art enthusiasts, and even for established artists. Over the years, we have done numerous exhibitions and the exhibitions are one of the platforms where the emerging artists and the established artists get to showcase their works,” said Passang Dema, Executive Director of VAST Bhutan.
The studio not only promotes artistic skills and provides a platform to art enthusiasts, but it equally upholds social values, social responsibility, and enriches life skills besides encouraging the use of art as a therapy to confront challenges in life.
Artist Pema Tshering is one of the founding members of VAST Bhutan. He was 13 years old at the time of VAST Bhutan’s inception. Pema recalls the times when they were taught the art of giving to the community while volunteering at the studio and working on improving their artistic skills.
“We used to go and renovate Chortens, we used to take rice to the people, and we used to try to build houses for them. These are all the important values that kids can grow up with but through art they try to make programmes and use art as a method to instill values to the young people.”
“We got bonded with the organisation because of all the values that it has instilled in us. We found the organisation to be more than just painting actually. That is why we are still together and going forward also we want to keep promoting these values in our children,” said Passang Dema.
From a not-for-profit organisation, the studio was registered as a Mutual Benefit Organisation in 2014.
So far, VAST Bhutan has facilitated over 30 scholarships for youths to pursue arts in art colleges in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
In the years to come, VAST Bhutan plans to facilitate more art exhibitions, send more art enthusiasts to pursue art studies abroad, and perhaps produce fine Bhutanese Picasso, Vincent van Gogh or Leonardo da Vinci.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Phub Gyem
