ISLAMABAD: The National Skills University in collaboration with Atomcamp organised an art and craft festival on Saturday.

Oxbridge innovation solutions were the training partner with Atomcamp. The event was attended by people from all walks of life, including families from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, schoolchildren, dignitaries from city administration.

Visitors engaged in art and craft activities. The art activity included painting on a canvas with acrylic paints. Children as well as adults got creative in making beautiful images.

Younger children got an outlet to draw in crayon drawing stations. Atomcamp’s volunteer art trainers guided the activity and helped people in handling art material.

Crafty science projects, conducted by Oxbridge, included making straw roller coasters and architecture structures from marshmallows and sticks.

“National Skills University promotes learning skills in creative ways. We are open to collaborations to create a community learning environment,” said Prof Mohammad Mukhtar, National Skills University Islamabad Vice Chancellor.

In addition to the projects, there was an art exhibition by local artist, Sameeha.

While Ramsha Ali, who is a student of architecture at National College of Arts Rawalpindi, exhibited her impressions of mostly landscapes, Sameeha Khaliq, is a mixed media artist from Fatima Jinnah University had on display her mixed media impressions. She was also a master trainer at the event.

Asma Chaudhry is a Social Sciences Student at Zhabist University, has a passion for handmade items such as paintings, handmade jewelry, household accessories, bookmarks and cards. Science students made learning interesting by engaging children to build models and understand laws of physics.

A food stall with delicious sweet and savory snacks was set up from a home-based chef.

Manager Atomcamp, Samna Sadaf Khan, explained the purpose of the event.

“The festival aims to promote learning outside a classroom’s environment. Art activities are rarely recognised as entrepreneurship careers, but local artists are bucking the trend by using their art and craft skills to run successful businesses. We wanted children to have fun in the festival, learn as well as be creative in their own ways,” she said.

“The world is focusing on providing skills. We have provided all the material for visitors for a hands-on experience on skills development,” said Co-founder Autocamp Mohammad Naveed Iftikhar.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2021