An art room filled with fun, learning

The children are busy painting a wall with the colours they have been assigned and the 'yellow team' has the most work to do. They are from the 'Dharavi Art Room' and on their weekly mission to paint the walls near their homes in Dharavi. What began in 2005 with four students has more than 800 students in Mumbai.

Himanshu S is a 33-years-old artist and a graduate from JJ School of Art. He began the art room to have a safe space for the community to come together and explore the artistic medium. Dharavi Art Room's main focus is art and photography and they have had many exhibitions to bring their views to the mainstream. "There is an absence of such voices in mainstream cultural spaces. Dharavi is a productive place and it's culturally active. We want to be their voice and say how other spaces in the city affect such spaces and through this process document their life," said Himanshu, who is looking for a rented place where he can conduct various workshops along with co-founder Aqui Thami for the slums of south Mumbai, the suburbs and Navi Mumbai.

Aqui is a social worker and a graduate from TISS. He said that they had to give up their old space as they could not bear the expenses anymore. "We are in the process of being registered as an NGO. We realise that we need to be registered so that people can access us easily and help us with funds too. Whatever material we use is bought by us and the kids are taught for free," said the 25-year-old from Darjeeling. Aqui is hopeful that by the end of 2014 they will have a designated area for themselves.

Dharavi Art Room also takes these children on picnics and trips to malls and museums which are funded by friends and supporters. They also teach videography, origami, stop motion and mural paintings. They have six trustees and three interns who help them, but they are facing a space crunch to hold their meetings. They have recently started publishing the photographs and artwork that the children create in the form of photobooks, notebooks, info-books, diaries and more. They recently exhibited a 'ladies only' photo exhibition where the women from Dharavi had photographed their surroundings. The money generated from the sale of photos was given to them. "They bought Idli machines, mixers, cell phones from the money they earned. The children get to interact with the media and such activities build their self confidence and make them more visible to a bigger world," said Aqui, who also conducts art workshops in seven BMC schools and helps other NGOs with their workshops along with Himanshu.

They began with one digital camera but now share five with the children. They got a DSLR camera for one of their older students in Dharavi who now does freelance photo events. "Dharavi is a stressful place for a child. They only know two spaces which is their home and their school. The art room helps them to understand their space and themselves better. It also enhances their skills and their behaviour changes and mental health improves. Many parents come to tell us how calm their children have become after joining us. They can talk about and sell their own art and we are here as their mediators so that they will be taken seriously," said Himanshu.

"The best part is that sir doesn't hit us or scream at us. He jokes a lot. I visited the zoo with the whole group and also played games in the mall. I come every Sunday to learn and I thoroughly enjoy it," said 10-year-old Sansew Joseraj, who lives in Dharavi and has been a part of the art room for three years. Another 10-year-old, Sejal Dhake, said that the fun has decreased. "Earlier, we enjoyed more as we had a room where we all met and had so many competitions and activities. We don't have a place now, but sir said we will have one soon. He makes us learn a lot of new things and he says sorry if he makes a mistake, which I like," said Sejal, who wants to be a painter when she grows up.

To know more and contribute to Dharavi Art Room
log onto: artroom.strikingly.com
contact: Himanshu S: 9773361243