IIFA gives opportunity to underprivileged creative kids
Over 400 students, including Mohita Sharma ( name changed), daughter of daily wage labourer, have been able to get a Bachelor’s degree in several streams of art and culture with the help of scholarships provided by the International Institute of Fine Arts ( IIFA) at Modi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh.
Despite her background, Mohita was very creative since her childhood. As a child, she drew figures of gods and goddesses on the walls and made dolls from clay around her house. She wanted to study for a professional degree course but did not have funds for it.
She visited IIFA with her brother and enquired if she could apply for any scholarship for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. For her creativity, she was awarded Art for India scholarship and completed her degree in BFA.
Art for India, a brainchild of Satish Kumar Modi, industrialist- cum- philanthropist, is aimed at raising funds to support underprivileged, yet talented artists from India at a global plat- form.
“AFI was launched at the Kensington Palace, London, in October 2010 to provide a global platform to underprivileged youngsters of the country to come out of poverty through the provision of education in art and creative design,” said Mr Modi.
To strengthen links between Indian and British film industry, the AFI is also planning to organise a joint cine awards function. “There is lots of potential in Indo- UK film industry and we are in talks with them and a joint awards function is in the pipeline. Apart from Indo- UK film collaboration, there is lots of potential in fashion and art. A similar joint art and fashion show will be held in the future,” added Mr Modi.
Since July 2000, the IIFA has been working to draw international audience to recognise Indian artists. IIFA has organised several art exhibition at various venues around the globe like London, New York, Singapore and Japan.
“We can help the growth of Indian arts only by providing the artist an opportunity where they can make ends meet. IIFA and AFI are contributing to help these talented and young artists to get global recognition,” said Mr Modi.
On Tuesday, the IIFA will be honouring country’s leading contemporary artist, Subodh Gupta, with the Dayawati Modi Award for art, culture and education.
“Previous recipients of this award were actor Amitabh Bachchan, Mother Teresa, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and others,” added Mr Modi.