Boost To Art

Hindustan Times
Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Eight young artists awarded scholarship.

The Chandigarh lalit kala Akademi announced the names of eight young artists, below 30 years of age, selected for receiving scholarships at a press conference held on Tuesday.
A panel of senior artists had selected the upcoming artists, who will be given a stipend of Rs. 2000/- per month for a period of one year. The scholarship is aimed to promote research and quest for an individual signature in their respective fields. The scholarships were open to the artists in the field of drawing, graphics, print making, painting, sculpture, multimedia, photography and installation etc.

The scholarship programme is a part Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi’s efforts to promote, disseminate and encourage art and culture in this region. The work done by the scholars will be reviewed quarterly and will be showcased in an exhibition by the end of the tenure of the scholarship.
A draw was conducted in the presence of the press and the scholarship holders to select which scholarship goes to whom and by which sponsor. Members of the Akademi Bela Sehgal, Ishwar Dayal, Ravinder Sharma(Secretary CLKA), Sonal A. Singh and Ritu M. Bansal were present on the conference to encourage the young artists.

The scholarships awarded for 2008-2009 have been named after eminent personalities from different fields, like Mulk Raj Anand, Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. M. S. Randhawa, J. Swaminathan among others.
The selected artists – who work in various mediums- for the scholarships are Amrit Pal Singh, Ritu Raj Singh Kaul, Aishwarya Sultania, Gurpreet Singh, Geetika Pathania, Sonam Jain, Aanchal and Mukesh Kumar.

For Art’s Sake

Indian Express
Wednesday, November 5,2008
By Parul

Eight budding artists receive scholarships from Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi.

It was a special moment and for most of the young artists an overwhelming one at that. Budding sculptors, painters and a caricature artist, eight talented students of the Government College of Art were selected for scholarships by the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, a novel endeavor. Selected by a panel of senior artists, the students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 2,000/- which has been sponsored by city- based companies. “Many of them are personal friends and were gracious and generous. We’re setting a trend, one that will give many artists encouragement, promote research and quest for excellence in their fields. The choice was tough, but we found artists who are enthusiastic, energetic, have fresh ideas and have already done impressive work,” Diwan Manna introduces the artists and adds that the scholarships are being named after eminent personalities like Amrita Shergil, Tagore, Dr. MS Randhawa, Le Corbusier … the amount agrees Diwan is not huge, but yes, it’s a great start, “and a wonderful way to encourage us to work harder for it’s way of supporting us to see and research more, travel to exhibitions and even frame our work, which is also tough to do with our limited resources. These scholarships will set standards and aspire us for better work,” Aishwarya Sultania, a painter is looking ahead.

For Ritu Raj Singh the fellowship’s come to a good time, as his father retied this month, “and that means a little less burden on him.”Amrit Pal Singh is a brilliant caricature artist, who believes you don’t need words to support a caricature and agrees it’s an offbeat field, which has a fantastic future. “Humour is close to my heat and I’m looking forward to some original work,”says Singh. Get creative…

Art Concern

The Tribune
Wednesday, November 5, 2008

This promise isn’t big but honestly committed. It assures support, encouragement, inspiration and so much more that can make a different to the lives of eight youngsters. Such is an initiative taken by the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi that has taken the onus to hone talents of eights budding artists. The akademi short –listed these students after considering their work and talent. “We realized the seriousness of effort we were going to make and we wanted to choose the most deserving students for it, “avers Diwan Manna, chairman of the Akademi. So how did they go about selecting students? We followed a two- step selection process through which we analyzed their work followed by an interview where we judged their passion for their art.”

All the eight scholarships are in the name of eight renowned artists and art connoisseurs like M. S. Randhawa, Le- Corbusier and others. The scholarships will provide them with a monthly stipend of Rs. 2000/-.

Also the akademi will support them in holding an exhibition of their artworks at the end of the tenure of scholarships. Geetika Pathania, a budding sculpture and winner of the scholarship says, “We might become role models for others who think society doesn’t support art. It can encourage others to take up their art professionally.”

Another scholarship winner, Aishwarya Sultania from Delhi feels that financial help can infuse confidence in other artists, “At times, financial obstacles hinder popularity of artists who don’t have enough resources to put their work on exhibition or use quality material for it. This money would help us overcoming such problems.”

A Boost For Budding Artists

Times of India
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
By Bhavneet Bhatti

While passion for art is what keeps an artist going, recognition, and support undoubtedly gives it impetus. And in its initiative to promote budding artists, Chandigarh Lalit kala Akademi for the first time has announced a one year scholarship for young artists. Eight budding artists who have been selected by a panel of judges including Diwan Manna, Chairman of the Akademi, besides Raj Kumar and Viren Tanwar will be given a monthly stipend for Rs.2000/- for a year.
The eight youngsters who happen to be students of College of Art, Chandigarh, are specializing in different forms of art including painting, sculpture, caricature, photography, multimedia and graphics.

Happy about getting the scholarship, the young artists revealed that it was a much needed encouragement. “It’s a special feeling. Besides, recognition of our talent gives us strength to get more involved in our work, “said Amrit Pal Singh, a caricature artists, who added that he felt really motivated to pursue a career in the same art after receiving the scholarship.
It is also a big help in better exploring art to enhance the quality of their work. says Aishwarys Sultania, “It is a tremendous support. The monthly stipend will also come in handy when it comes to traveling to see the works of other artists, besides buying literature on art to read.”
Aishwarya, who sees the opportunity as a responsibility added, “as we have got the scholarships at the Akademy’s initiative, it’s a big responsibility in itself.”

Yet another young artist Ritu Raj Singh Kaul revealed that the scholarship had come just at the right time and would be a big help as his work will not suffer because of lack of resources. “My father retired this year and had I not received the scholarship it would have been difficult to pursue my education, “he added.
Explaining the criteria for selection, Diwan Manna explained that applications were invited from artists below 30 years of age, while adding different sponsors were giving the eight scholarships.
“The response for the scholarships was overwhelming and we hope the initiative would help promoting young artists in the region,” added Manna.