Artists retreat at Sobha Singh Art Gallery to open in April

DHARAMSHALA:THE newly created artists residency at family-run Sobha Singh Art Gallery at Andretta village, hosting art lovers, students and researchers, in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district is set to open its doors this spring season.

Hirday Paul Singh, the grandson of the saint artist and general secretary of Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society, said the residency would providing all basic facilities for the creative endeavours and expressions to famous artists.

“We will be hosting a foreign artist this year. A few foreign artists from Germany and France had applied for the programme.most likely, a French artist will also be coming here for a month-long residency programme this April,” said Singh, stating that talks with him are in the final stage and his name will be revealed only after his tour is finalised. Another artist from Germany is also expected to come for the programme in October. Created on the lines of European concept, the residency is first-ofits-kind in North India. Andretta abounds in natural beauty that has attracted artists such as Sobha Singh, Prithvi Raj Kapoor and Norah Richards in the past. The art pieces created here by the artists can be sold by them.

“We are trying to implement the concept here. We have facilities of exhibition hall and accommodation for artists who want to come for the programme,” said Singh. While no fee will be charged for the exhibition hall, he said, the artist will have to bear the expwenses of their food and may also contribute some amount for the upkeep of the residency.