Velammal Art Tour – A new pedagogical approach

Gone are the days when education was all about parroting, and the evaluation of the talent of student is not restricted to how much he or she learns by-heart. Yes, learning happens beyond the frameworks of books and classroom, too. In this context, art has a prominent role to play to take the students to the wider world around and its splendor. 

Chitravathi Centre for Creativity (CCC) conceived the idea of Velammal Art Tour keeping in mind this change, and it sees art, in all its manifestations, as a pedagogic bridge. This is not a programme to create artists, it aims to unravel the artist within every student and help them use it as a vehicle to learn any subject. 

While visualizing this programme CCC had the complete cognitive development of the students in mind, and this way it wanted to shape the overall cultural and educational perspective of a school and achieve the goals in that connection without causing them any burden. 

While this is a new initiative, it is also a continuation of the Art Integrated Learning (AIL) activities that CCC pioneered and successfully implemented in the Ponneri Campus of Velammal Group.

Velammal Knowledge Park conceived the idea of Art Tour to strengthen the creative contribution of the students and institutions, thus enhancing their thinking process, according to its director Mr. M.V.M. Sasikumar. “We know that art has an integral role in molding the approach of the students and strengthening their cognitive skills. Even during the lockdown period in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, we took up art integrated initiatives using the online platform, which has a major role in the hybrid education that we endorse,” he said.

CCC plans to take the Art Tour to all the campuses as part of the next level of AIL, and this way, they expect to take knowledge sharing and learning beyond the frameworks of the textbooks. 

As part of this, the educational group will be providing excellent training to the teachers, who in turn can impart it to the students, thus mentoring their talents. Moreover, eminent artists will be part of the Art Tour, and their experience and vision would further chisel the artistic talent of the students.

Like any other segment, education is also transforming from conventional to hybrid, according to Murali Cheeroth, Creative Director, CCC. “Genuine education is that which enables a child to introspect, thus helping gain confidence to face the challenges, and bring about a creative balance within, which catalyzes their future journey. We want the students to spread wings to a new thought process that is in tune with the transforming pedagogical approach and integrated learning,” he said.

The art tour, which pioneers a new pedagogical approach, would comprise four-day sessions for the students and one-day interactive session for the parents, teachers and students. CCC designed this programme keeping in mind the vision that education is a systematic effort to maintain not just a culture, but the cultural diversity as well, said the organisers. 

Along with the interactions, the Art Tour will also provide the participants hands-on experience in certain areas, too, such as Tie-and-dye, Shora painting and Mesh sculpture, to mention a few. It is scientifically proven that the arts also help improve the academic performance of the students – be it science, mathematics or language. Moreover, it creates a bond among them and brings them closer to the society. This way, the Art Tour helps them in their academic pursuits as well. On the other hand, the students achieve a positive learning environment through this tour too. This also helps cultivate a constructive school culture that promotes professional satisfaction, thus boosting the morale of the teachers and students, said the organisers.

In a nutshell, this is an art programme in its totality. It would have long-term impact on the creative and aesthetic identity of every school, which would be in tune with the new modes of education taking shape globally, they said.