Art Room

Art Room more commonly known as Dharavi Art Room is helping children and women from the slums of Dharavi to explore personal and community issues thro Read moreugh the medium of art. It has set-up and art room for children from families who are living in extreme poverty and cannot afford expensive education and tuitions. In this facility children are encouraged to release their energies through the medium of art at the same time protecting the children from societal pressures. To empower women in the Dharavi neighbourhood photography workshops are conducted and images discussing the life and conditions in the slum are displayed and sold. The money received from the sale of photographs are given back to the women. They are also involved in making handicrafts by upcycling paper, products like jewellery, bags and baskets are made and Art Room facilitates the sale and marketing of the products whih form an additional source of income for the slum women. Education is promoted among the marginalised children by selecting five bright children from among poor students who are termed “Chota scholars” and their education is sponsored in local schools by the organisation. The “Chota” library has been created in the community to encourage reading and writing amongst the poor children and also motivates the people to donate books and documents. The organisation frequently holds exhibitions on the streets which try to give the public a view of life of the children of Dharavi and strives to initiate positive action and dialogue to help address these issues. The children are also roped in to draw paintings on the blank walls in and around the community to beautify their surroundings and give direction to their imaginations besides conducting music classes to enhance appreciation of positive emotions and creative talent.