The TSG Charitable Foundation brought together over 500 young artists for a State-Level Drawing Competition held on 31 August at TSG Emerald View Hotel, Phoenix Bay. Organised under the guidance of Chairman TSG Bhasker, the event provided a platform for children to express their creativity, imagination, and artistic skills.
Participants from schools across the islands competed in two categories, ages 7 to 12 years and 13 to 17 years. Their artworks, filled with vibrant colours and diverse themes, reflected both the innocence of childhood and the growing awareness of older children. The sheer variety of ideas transformed the venue into a lively exhibition of youthful imagination, underscoring the importance of arts as a channel for expression.
Parents, teachers, and art enthusiasts gathered to witness the competition, which was described by many as not just a contest but a celebration of creativity. The Foundation’s initiative was seen as significant in encouraging children to step beyond textbooks and engage in artistic pursuits. For many students, the event marked their first exposure to a large-scale platform, allowing them to showcase their talent alongside peers from other schools.
In the evening, a prize distribution ceremony was held to recognise the winners and runners-up from both categories. They were felicitated with trophies, certificates, and prizes, while every participant received a certificate of participation as a gesture of encouragement. Organisers emphasised that the aim of the competition went beyond awarding winners, focusing instead on nurturing confidence, creativity, and appreciation for the arts among children.
Chairman TSG Bhasker, in his address, expressed gratitude to the students, parents, teachers, and schools for their enthusiastic involvement, noting that the overwhelming response had surpassed expectations. He highlighted that initiatives like this reaffirm the Foundation’s commitment to youth development and cultural enrichment in the islands.
The event also reinforced the role of art in children’s overall development. Psychologists and educators often stress that drawing and painting activities enhance cognitive skills, motor coordination, and emotional expression. By providing a formal platform for such activities, the TSG Charitable Foundation ensured that these benefits reached a wide cross-section of young learners.
Observers noted that the scale of the competition reflected a growing recognition of extracurricular activities in the islands’ educational ecosystem. While academic performance continues to dominate, platforms that promote art, culture, and creativity are gaining momentum, providing children with avenues to discover and nurture hidden talents.
The conclusion of the event was marked by a promise from the organisers to hold an even larger competition next year, with more schools, broader themes, and greater opportunities for participation. This assurance was welcomed by parents and teachers alike, who felt that the continuity of such initiatives could have a lasting impact on children’s creative journeys.
For the young artists who participated, the experience was less about competition and more about expression. Many carried home not just certificates and prizes but the confidence that their voices could be heard through colours and drawings. For the islands, the event stood as a reminder that investing in creativity is as important as investing in academics, sports, and other aspects of child development.
By gathering hundreds of children under one roof to celebrate art, the TSG Charitable Foundation reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for youth empowerment. The competition may have lasted a single day, but its influence on the budding artists of the Andamans is likely to resonate for years to come.
