Conference on Art Education

Art needs a unique teaching manual which is distinct from the teaching practices followed for traditional subjects as creativity is often induced than taught, speakers at a conference titled ‘State of Art Schools: Reality and Prospects’ said on Thursday. The conference on art education is being organised by Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) in association with Foundation for Indian Art & Education (FIAE). The three-day conference running from November 26 to 28 was inaugurated by CUSAT Vice  Chancellor Dr J Letha in Kochi. The conference brought together artists, art critics, art historians and other stakeholders.

CUSAT Vice Chancellor Dr J Letha inaugurating the conference.
Others: Indrapramit Roy, FIAE; Bose Krishnamachari, President, KBF; R Sivakumar, FIAE; Sanjiv Mirchandani, FIAE; and Riyas Komu, secretary, KBF.

 “Art cannot be taught like science. Universities should only look into the administrative side of art schools while art tutors should be given complete freedom with regard to the curriculum,” CUSAT Vice Chancellor Dr Letha noted after inaugurating the meet.

KBF President Bose Krishnamachari said society should inculcate artistic quality in children and art education should start from home. “Parents should make sure that children indulge in art physically and not through internet,” he added. KBF Secretary Riyas Komu said Kerala’s social reformers have always understood the importance of art.  “It was none other than Sree Narayana Guru who encouraged famous artist Mattappilly Raman to go to Kolkatta and learn art,” the Mumbai-based artist noted in his welcome address.


The FIAE survey had assessed colleges in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh
and Telangana based on their infrastructure, syllabus and human resources.