In continuation to the Academy’s pursuit for talent hunt among the children of the far-off areas of Kargil District  in the field of music and painting coupled with the objective to instill musical and painting abilities among the rural children of different age groups Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Kargil organized a Childrens’ on Spot Music Competition and  a Childrens’ on Spot Painting Competition under the Amateur Age Group (Between 16 plus and 21 years of age) on 21 May at Government Higher Secondary School Silmoo, Kargil. 

Around 70 students participated in the day long competitions who mesmerized the audiences with their musical presentations and transcribed their pictorial ideas on the canvas. In the Music Competition Imteyaz Ali secured the first prize, Mehroon Nissa the second prize and Vilayat Ali won the third prize respectively, while as in the Painting Competition Zarina Banoo won the first prize, Vilayat Ali the second prize and Raziya Banoo won the third prize respectively.

Speaking on the occasion the Principal and the staff members of Higher Secondary School Silmoo acknowledged the Academy for having chosen their school for these children centric contests. They added that access to creative arts and the spirit of competition to the youngsters will enable them to discover and refine their creative abilities especially in terms of music and visual arts. They congratulated the Academy for its persistent efforts in encouraging the rural children through such initiatives, and appealed for more such programmes in future.

Earlier welcoming the guests Muhammad Ali Tak, Cultural Officer, Kargil said that that this programme is a part of the series of children based competitions started by the Academy in Kargil last year with particular emphasis on the rural and far flung areas. Tak added that the objective is to introduce the rural youngsters to the realm of creative arts in painting and music who get fewer opportunities in this regard.

He further said that apart from being committed to the promotion and preservation of the local cultural heritage through various cultural and literary programmes at regular intervals, Cultural Academy Kargil is also making every possible effort to inspire and invoke the children.