Bhopal Hotel Launches Year-Long Warli Art Workshop with Museum School Partnership
A unique cultural initiative has taken root in Bhopal, where a hotel is bridging urban life with tribal heritage through an immersive art workshop. The Courtyard by Marriott hotel, in collaboration with the UNESCO-awarded Parvarish—The Museum School, has launched a special section dedicated to Warli art, which will run for an entire year. This innovative program aims to bring city-dwellers closer to grassroots traditions by having underprivileged girl students from the museum school teach guests how to create their own Warli artwork.
Empowering Students and Preserving Tribal Heritage
The workshop is being conducted by 28-year-old Pooja, a resident of Rahul Nagar, who expressed enthusiasm for the project. "I hope to have lively interactions with people while creating the artefacts and that it helps me in delving deeper into my craft as well," Pooja said. For students like Pooja and another participant, this opportunity provides not only artistic growth but also financial support for their families, as their works are already being purchased at local fairs and haats across the city.
Shibani Ghosh, co-founder of Parvarish, highlighted the dual benefits of the initiative. "With this, we got a chance to bring artists in the limelight along with the art. And the workshop could be interactive. For instance, if someone wishes to create Taj-ul Masajid out of Warli art, that would ground the experience even more in Bhopali culture," she explained, noting the presence of Nishant, general secretary of OASiS, which manages the NGO.
Warli Art: A Timeless Tribal Tradition
Warli art originates from the Warli tribe, predominantly found in the Sahyadri region of Maharashtra. Dating back to 2500-3000 BCE, this ancient art form is considered a harbinger of good luck and traditionally adorns the mud walls of tribal homes during weddings and harvests. Characterized by geometric shapes like triangles, it functions much like cave paintings, depicting and documenting the stories and practices of the tribe.
The workshop allows guests and visitors to learn these techniques and carry their creations home, fostering a hands-on connection to India's rich tribal heritage. Isha Rai, coordinator at Courtyard by Marriott, emphasized the hotel's motivation: "We were on the lookout for such an initiative and we chose Warli art as it would help our guests at our hotel, especially kids and parents, learn about a unique tribal artform. It also supports local artisans while connecting everyone involved to India's tribal heritage."
A Model for Community Engagement and Education
Parvarish—The Museum School is an NGO-run educational model that utilizes museums as dynamic learning spaces in Bhopal. This partnership with Courtyard by Marriott represents a creative extension of its mission, blending art, education, and community engagement. By hosting the workshop in a city hotel, the initiative makes tribal art accessible to a wider audience, promoting cultural exchange and appreciation.
The year-long duration of the section ensures sustained interaction and learning, potentially inspiring similar projects elsewhere. As urban centers increasingly seek ways to preserve and promote indigenous arts, this Bhopal workshop stands as a testament to the power of collaborative efforts in celebrating and sustaining traditional crafts.
