HISTORY

Initially, the very first ART WORKSHOPS began on a small scale at a government orphanage, Balmandir in Kathmandu, 2012, facilitated by Sri Raj Gurung and Nancy Lagin.  All of the ART WORKSHOPS which followed were facilitated by Nancy Lagin with the indispensable assistance of Narad Sunuwar, Sri Raj Gurung  and Lisa Kumari Conlon of Above the Clouds Adventure Treks.   All of the workshops were and are FREE.  Supplies and travel expenses were and continue to be, self-funded by Nancy Lagin.   No products have been sold or profits gained.   Non-profit status and a small Board of Directors were established  in 2014. The first structured  ART WORKSHOPS began in collaboration with Thumki LEARNING GROUNDS, in the semi-remote foothills of eastern Nepal, 2012, facilitated by Rajeev Kumar Goyal and Harka Prasad Lama.  Interest quickly grew and spread to neighboring rural villages and other organizations became involved.  Led by Kumar Bishwakarma, Yangshila saw the largest number of children participating and this village also became the central headquarters of Goyal’s KTK-BELT PROJECT, the pioneering model for preserving biodiversity, sustainable agricultural economies and environmental education.  Other workshops, initiated by Tsewang Bista, with children from remote Lomanthang including Lo-Kunphen Medical School and Shree Rastriya Mobile School, maintained consistency for three years  and are continuing on with annual workshops ,mainly in Pokhara.  Another continuing partner, Maiti Nepal, globally famed for its work in rescuing, educating and giving shelter to girls who have survived trafficking , has also had ART WORKSHOPS for three years.  Working with the same Maiti Nepal girls consistently has strengthened relationships as well as creative outcomes.   With the devastating earthquake of 2015 – Maiti Nepal took on 200-300 more homeless children and interest/ participation in art activities increased dramatically.   Most recently, since the 2015 earthquake, close to 1,000 people whose homes and villages were destroyed  and who were “ temporarily “ living in tents in Kathmandu were the main focus of the ART WORKSHOPS.  Many paintings and photos of the women and children displaced by theearthquake are featured in the book HOPE...after the QUAKE . Those artist participants, still residing in the “tent villages”, waiting for better shelter options, over a year after the quake, will be the next recipients of more art supplies and continued workshops.  While increasing opportunities for those new to art experiences is a goal, it is equally important to revisit the same groups, communities and individuals to strengthen and deepen relationships and learnings.