Recently, Apeejay Education organized a magnificent week-long art show at Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi called "Apeejay Stya Art Festival." It was a collaboration between three Apeejay Education institutions: the Gurugram-based Apeejay Stya University, the Jalandhar-based Apeejay College of Fine Arts, and the New Delhi-based Apeejay Institute of Design.
Works of Art on Display
Beautiful artwork created by students and teachers from the three universities was on display at the exhibition. These works of art were displayed, and they included everything from paintings and sculptures to furniture and terracotta tapestries to digital art and photography. The art show was officially opened by Sushma Paul Berlia, Co-Promoter & President of Apeejay Stya, and Svran Group, Chairperson of Apeejay Education, Co-Founder & Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University.
Rishi Vashist, the director of the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training in New Delhi, served as the event's Guest of Honor. While inaugurating the exhibition, Berlia remarked, "Apeejay Education since its inception, has worked towards integrating art forms with education. The inspiration came from my beloved father, mentor and guide Dr Stya Paul and Rajeshwari Paul, my beloved mother."
Rajeshwari Paul had acted as a catalyst for bringing art education to the heart of Apeejay's curriculum and was a tireless crusader for the propagation and preservation of art and culture, highlighting Berlia. "This art exhibition reaffirms our mission of providing ample opportunities for the younger generations, to know their cultural heritage and also share their creative talent with the outside world," she noted.
She also emphasized how world-class quality education was the foundation upon which Apeejay Education was built more than fifty years ago, along with a desire to preserve, spread, and promote Indian art and culture. She mentioned how pleased she was to hear that the doctoral-level studies in the arts and culture being produced by Apeejay Stya University's School of Design and Visual Arts were yet another indication of the breadth and dedication of Apeejay Education to the many creative forms.
The director of the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Rishi Vashisht, expressed his joy at how closely Apeejay Education's vision and objectives matched those of the CCRT. He said that CCRT wanted to highlight Dr. Stya Paul's contributions to nation-building as a freedom fighter, advocate for education, and industrialist on its website. Additionally, he informed them that, like Apeejay Education, CCRT is dedicated to promoting art and culture and offers a number of scholarships to do so. Co-promoters Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, Nishant Berlia and Aditya Berlia, also attended the inaugural event.
Certificates of Appreciation
The exhibition was an eye-opening experience for the students and a visual feast for art enthusiasts. It demonstrated the diversity and creativity of the artworks shown by the artists. Five students from Apeejay colleges received certificates of appreciation for their outstanding artwork. Since the founding of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts and the Rajeshwari Kala Sangam, Apeejay Education has been involved in the arts and culture. Rajeshwari Kala Sangam developed into a temple of the arts, and Apeejay College of Fine Arts continued it to become a haven of culture, art, and education offering interdisciplinary programs.
Another significant development in this area was the Dr. Stya Paul Art Gallery in Virsa Vihar, Jalandhar, which was established in 2007 with government funding and is managed by Apeejay Education to help local emerging artists. The annual Rajeshwari Kala Mahotsava in Jalandhar is organized by Apeejay Education to provide the area's creative talent plenty of possibilities.
The partnership with Lalit Kala Akademi is a continuation of earlier cooperative initiatives. A week-long art festival in New Delhi in 2009 that featured both visual and performing arts featured an art exhibition organized by Apeejay Education at Lalit Kala Akademi. A few of the luminaries who graced the event at that time included Birju Maharaj (a renowned Kathak performer) and Ashok Vajpeyi (a renowned poet).
*Image Source: The Print