An online art platform for children, by children

Team L&M

Set up by Manya Roongta and Krish Nawal, Children’s Art Museum of India (CAMI) offers learning facilities for children in painting, sculpture, and mixed media. An online platform, it serves as a one-stop solution for creative minds where young talents assemble, exchange, and flourish as artists. “Artistic exploration is an essential aspect of a child’s development as it helps them in developing creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills,” says Manya. “Online accessibility to showcase the art and creativity is a smart way of upskilling and has brought a ray of possibilities and growth for the young children,” adds Krish. Talking to Life & More, they tell more:

What is the idea behind setting up CAMI? What all services do you offer?
Manya Roongta: We felt there was a dearth of platforms dedicated to showcasing the work of young artists. Additionally, young artists struggled to connect and learn from their peers. Our platform fills these voids by providing a space for young artists to exhibit their creations and foster a supportive community. We aim to empower young artists, amplify their voices, and inspire creativity and connection among the next generation of artistic minds.
Krish Nawal: CAMI offers a range of activities that keep the artists engaged and improve their artistic skills. Starting from daily social media updates, weekly blogs, monthly newsletters, monthly challenges and much more! Along with this, we have introduced the Children’s Art Museum in Metaverse via Roblox, wherein players can experience the museum and amazing artwork in an immersive experience. This will make the players more aware of Indian art and heritage and this also promotes India internationally. We also have one section dedicated specifically to Indian artwork and you will observe throughout the game we have included Indian elements.

What kind of growth have you seen in the last year of operations?
Manya Roongta: Amazing! When we started the platform we never expected that we will get such a response from students and parents. We have more than 7000+ members associated with us and the number of artworks we receive is also increasing by the day. At this point, we have 3000+ art pieces on our platform (including live and private).

To what extent can an online art museum help artists, especially kids?
Krish Nawal: We opted for an online space to ensure accessibility and reach a wider audience, especially children seated both in rural and urban areas of India. Unlike a physical museum, an online platform allows children from all corners of the country to showcase their artwork without limitations of geographical proximity. It also provides a safe and inclusive environment for children to express themselves freely. Additionally, an online platform enables easy sharing, interaction, and learning among young artists, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. But then, we do plan to build a physical museum as well in the near future.

What is the role of virtual art galleries? What are the pros and cons of virtual art galleries?
Manya Roongta: Virtual art galleries serve as digital platforms where artists can showcase their artwork to a global audience without any barrier. They provide a convenient way for art enthusiasts to explore and experience art from the comfort of their own homes. The main advantages is accessibility, as they eliminate geographical barriers and allow people from different locations to engage with art. They also offer enhanced interactivity and immersive experiences through features like 360-degree views and virtual reality. The main disadvantage is that virtual galleries lack the physical presence and sensory aspects of traditional galleries, such as the tactile experience of artwork and the social interaction that comes from attending an exhibition in person.

How does exposure to the arts encourage creative and analytical thinking in children?
Krish Nawal: By accessing platforms like ours, parents can expose their children to a wide range of artistic styles, techniques, and cultural influences. Displaying art allows children to receive recognition and validation for their creative efforts, boosts their self-esteem and confidence. It also provides an opportunity for parents to engage in meaningful conversations about art, encouraging critical thinking, imaginative expression, and overall cognitive development in their children.

Does art education really ignite the imagination in children? Pl explain
Manya Roongta: Art education can indeed ignite the imagination in children. Through art, we are encouraged to explore our creativity, think outside the box, and express our unique perspectives. Art activities, such as drawing, painting, and sculpting, stimulate the imagination by allowing us to experiment, problem-solve, and envision new possibilities. Additionally, exposure to different art forms and techniques broadens our cultural understanding and opens our minds to diverse perspectives, fostering imagination and creativity in the process.

Do you think parents are supportive of their kids wanting to pursue art? Have you come across unsupportive parents? How do you handle them?
Krish Nawal: In today’s era, I think that parents are supportive of kids wanting to pursue art. My few friends are also very much interested in different kinds of art types and their mom-dads also appreciate it. Fortunately, with all the parents or guardians we have shared our idea and platform and have shown keen interest in it. Most of them also asked to explain and process of signing up and they have actually used our platform to showcase the talent of their wards. We are pretty lucky and haven’t come across any unsupportive people in context to our platform and vision.

What sort of opportunities does CAMI create for young artists?
Manya Roongta: Apart from online art shows, we provide free art education to young artists on the platform under ‘Learn Page’. This initiative ensures that talented individuals, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to develop their skills, showcase their work, and receive recognition. It fosters a supportive environment where young artists can contribute to the vibrant world of art and also helps in creating career opportunities. This lets young artists figure what they want to do in life, whether they want to opt art as their career or something else.

Story edited by Taruna Sharma