LAHORE: On the second day of the three-day (Oct 21-23) All Punjab Art Competition held by the Punjab Council of Arts in collaboration with the School Education Department, over 400 students, girls and boys, from the elementary level participated in the contest at the Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall.

On Tuesday, the foyer area of Hall No 1 was jam packed with students who made their artworks on the theme ‘Green Pakistan’. The council had also arranged live music on the occasion and the musicians kept on playing national songs. The photos and video clips of the participants were uploaded on the webpage of the council.

The council is holding this art competition throughout the province. The final round of the art competition of Lahore district is being held at Alhamra. Some 300 or so primary level students, 250 from elementary level and as many from secondary level are participating in the competition.

The theme for the primary level is ‘Mera Pakistan’, for the elementary level it is ‘Green Pakistan’ and for the secondary it is ‘Junglee Hayat’ (wildlife). The grand finale of the contest will be held in December. Prizes will be awarded to the winners adjudged by a jury of eminent artists.

The art activity and competitions are being held at all public schools of the province on tehsil, district and divisional levels involving some 12.5 million schoolchildren. The PCA is also organising a workshops for training art teachers across the province to broaden their outlook and experience.

PCA Executive Director Saman Rai said the main objective of this competition is to create awareness on art among THE students and teachers. She said art especially helps reduce academic pressures being faced by students and made them creative.

The event will conclude on Wednesday (today) with the participation of secondary level students who would paint on the theme of ‘Junglee Hayat’

(wildlife).

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2019