ABC Art Room a space to address the child in you, says District Collector

The Art Room “is a space for expressing oneself, reflect and address the child in you.

Key Highlights
- Initiative: Art by Children (ABC) Programme under the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF).
- Venue: Newly opened Art Room at Fort Kochi Water Metro Station, with another at Bastion Bungalow.

Statement by District Collector G Priyanka:
- The Art Room is “a space for expressing oneself, reflecting, and addressing the child in you.”
- It helps people reconnect with qualities symbolized by childhood—fearlessness, innocence, non-judgment, non-competitiveness, and joy.
- The space is designed for both children and adults.

Programme Details
- Origins: The ABC programme began in 2018, setting up dedicated Art Rooms in government schools across Ernakulam, Thrissur, Alappuzha, and Palakkad.
- Current Expansion:
- Two Art Rooms in Fort Kochi for workshops led by artist-facilitators.
- Featuring thought-provoking works by students from schools in Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Alappuzha.
- Future Plans: Potential expansion into private schools on a paid basis.

Social & Cultural Impact
- The Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) has helped place Kochi on the global tourism map.
- The Art Room initiative emphasizes creativity, inclusivity, and healing generational trauma through artistic expression.
- Upcoming workshops include:
- Sustainable fashion (Button Masala by Anuj Sharma)
- Mask-making (Manasee Jog, Melbourne-based artist)
- Narrative construction & identity (Jyoti Nisha, writer-filmmaker)
- Glove puppetry (Anurupa Roy, puppeteer)

Significance
The ABC Art Room is not just an art space—it’s a transformative cultural platform encouraging people of all ages to rediscover creativity, joy, and self-expression, while also strengthening Kochi’s reputation as a global hub for art and tourism.