--By Gaurav Aryal

 

Nepal Traditional Handicraft Training Centre (NTHTC) has not only kept the legacy of traditional arts alive but also has produced handicraftsmen who can find employment at the comfort of their houses. Guided with a mission to protect and preserve traditional arts, the centre is sharing the skills and know-how for recreating the beauty of the arts that once prospered in Nepal. 

 

NTHTC has been training young people with a nerve for arts since 2006. As of now the institute has trained 550 trainees. According to Prachanda Shakya, Founder and Director of NTHTC, most of them are working from their home to recreate the traditional arts and making their living out of it. His students are also running training centre learning from Shakya. This has not only helped in preserving the art that was once thought to have been at the verge of extinction but also has created opportunities of self employment for young artisans. Even if a trainee fails to start a work of his/her own, the institute takes the responsibility to place the trainee on a job or assign him/her as an apprentice to a senior artist. Currently there are 60 trainees learning traditional arts skills at the NTHTC. 

 

Inception 

 

The traditional artistry was limited to a handful of people within the Newar community in Kathmandu Valley. An artist would share his learning only to a few pupils from the community and most commonly within the consanguinity. Until 1994, Aksheswor Mahabihar at Pulchowk had been sharing the knowledge with young people from the community along with organising art exhibitions. But, after 1994, the doors were opened to others too. Shakya was one of the students of the first batch at the Mahabihar. However, the initiative to train young people was short-lived as it was deemed to be a commercial work and a Bihar is supposed to carry out only pious activities. 

 

Aksheswor Mahabihar Paintings and Sculptures Management Committee that was looking after those activities, was forced to close down the service in 2004. Shakya was involved in the committee and had managerial responsibilities. Shakya who had spent a decade working in the community close to traditional arts thought that the initiative must be given continuity. Being a fine arts students, involved in numerous designing of monuments, renovation projects of old temples and monuments, he had the expertise to take up the responsibilities along with his managerial know-how. 

 

So, in 2006, he established NTHTC as a private establishment at Mahapal, a few minutes walk from Aksheswor Mahabihar. He had words of encouragement and support from his aunt Barbara E Cook who was also a Traditional Metalsmith and Jewelry Designer by profession. “Traditional art at that time was at the verge of extinction. We started with theoretical training and later moved into practical too,” Shakya said. NTHTC shifted to the current location, at the premises of Aksheswor Mahabihar in 2008. Today, in Patan alone, around 600 artists are putting their efforts to recreate traditional arts. 

 

Social Venture 

 

NTHTC may not be termed as a large company in financial terms but the contributions it has made for the protection of traditional arts is priceless. According to Shakya, the company has assets of around Rs 3.3 million. The company is not registering profit but Shakya said that it is not making loss either. He said that once the company makes profit, he will be using it for the company itself rather than for his personal benefits. 

Shakya was awarded with Surya Nepal Asha Social Entrepreneurship Award in 2012 for his contributions to keep traditional art alive and providing avenues of employment and learning for the younger generation. 

 

Shakya had once thought of even closing down the company. Once he was awarded with the Asha Awards, he was inspired to keep going. “When I was awarded with the prestigious award, I felt a huge responsibility upon my shoulder. Then, I could not close it down. I realised the responsibility to take it to the next level and I am now dedicated not only to sustain the centre but also to offer quality services,” he shared. 

 

The centre itself has provided working opportunities for its students. Art pieces produced by the students are sold in the market. Revenue earned through sales is used in running the company and meeting expenses such as teacher’s salary. Shakya said that he has not taken any kind of financial support from anyone to run the centre apart from nine computers received as donation. 

 

Spreading the craftsmanship 

 

Shakya, also a senior artist who has specialised in repousse and metal carving is one of the tutors at the institute. Along with him, six other teachers who are experts in their respective fields are helping young students learn the traditional art. Time and again visiting trainers from abroad too are invited to take classes. The NTHTC offers six courses, namely paintings, repousse, wooden works, clay works, metal works and graphic design. The centre has recently introduced graphic design course with a focus on traditional art. The course offered by the NTHTC is recognised by the Centre for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). 

The training classes are conducted in two shifts: one beginning at 7 in the morning and the other at 6 in the evening and each lasts for three hours. Shakya says that anyone with a rooted interest in arts can join the class. The cost of training is also quite low with a monthly fee of Rs 2000. He said that mostly youngsters are joining the class. 

The two year certificate programme offered by the centre will help anyone to master the techniques of the traditional art. Under this curriculum, basic level is completed in six months where basic sketch art including traditional Newari patterns and symbols, still life, realistic portrait drawing and shading techniques are taught. This is accompanied by the study of the philosophy and historical significance of symbols, God’s jewellery, dress and decorative backgrounds. This six months basic training is useful also for engineers, designers, interior designers and jewellery designers to learn about the traditional designs and features of traditional arts. 

 

Similarly, the second entry level course of six months concentrates on drawing, theory and design of varying geometric mandalas featuring both Buddhist and Hindu patterns. Similarly, it focuses on iconography drawing and theory of God’s faces, both peaceful and wrathful. This level has practicum, exams and competitions. 

 

Likewise, the advanced level, a year long course, is a full practical based training with master faculty. In this level, students are exposed to theory of Gods with body anatomy composition, face drawing and Newari patterns and symbols. Similarly, students are taught to make background concentrations in torans, makars, dragons and nagkanya along with field trips, student exhibition and examinations. 

 

Market 

Shakya said that Nepalis need not go abroad searching for a job of mere Rs 15000. “This type of artistry has great scope in Nepal and one can easily earn up to Rs 35000 per month,” he said. Shakya who is also Executive Member of Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal said that the federation registers an annual turnover up to Rs 7 billion and the share of the traditional arts is 60 per cent out of it. And, he hints that the Nepal holds tremendous market potentials. 

 

Arts that used to be exported in the past have found market within the country at the moment. He said that those who understand the value of the art and its beauty have increased in Nepal. Collectors and the admirers of beauty of art are the major customers of traditional art. 

 

Way Ahead 

 

Shakya shares an ambitious plan to include the traditional art in the university course and he is actively involved in the process. So far, he has designed a four years bachelor’s degree course for Srijana College of Fine Art. “My aim is to include the traditional art to the university course,” he said. He is also thinking to develop NTHTC as an academic institution under the affiliation of Lumbini University. Similarly, he is also working to include the course under the CTEVT too. But, he said that the curriculum and a set of question he has forwarded to CTEVT are yet to be approved.