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CAMI's Pick: From Here to Everywhere -Art for Change

What if art didn’t just hang on a wall, but actually moved people — toward kindness, awareness, and action? 

At the Children’s Art Museum of India (CAMI), we believe that creativity can change the world — and we’re inspired by organizations that live and breathe that belief every day. One such inspiring initiative is Art for Change, a New Delhi-based arts organization that goes beyond aesthetics to use art as a powerful tool for social reflection and change.

From artist residencies and inclusive workshops to exhibitions in both cities and mountains, Art for Change is creating not just art, but impact. Their work is a beautiful example of how creativity, when rooted in community and conscience, can speak louder than words.


Warli art

What Does Art for Change Do?

Art for Change began in 2004 when four artist-friends gathered in a New Delhi apartment to paint in response to religious violence. What started as a one-week exploration of pain and healing soon turned into something much bigger. The combination of intense reflection, artistic expression, and community dialogue sparked something that couldn’t be ignored — and by 2008, Art for Change was officially born.

Now, over 15 years later, they’ve:

  • Hosted 34 artist residencies (8 of them being the flagship International Artist Residency),

  • Held 66 exhibitions — from bustling city streets to India’s Parliament halls,

  • And delivered regular art workshops for some of Delhi’s most vulnerable communities.

They didn’t stop there. With programs like the Delhi Artist Studio Tour, they are uplifting young, struggling artists by introducing their work to wider audiences. Through Art Melas, they make art accessible and affordable for the middle class, while still empowering the creators. Their consistent offering of art classes and workshops ensures creativity continues to flow — not just as skill, but as social energy.

At its heart, Art for Change is about using creativity to raise consciousness, bring people together, and ask the hard, beautiful questions that spark change.

Their Key Programs & Initiatives

  • International Artist Residency: A month-long themed residency inviting artists from India and across the globe to create, collaborate, and showcase socially relevant art.

  • Made to Create | Art Beyond Barriers: A platform offering people with disabilities an empowering space to express, build confidence, and grow through art.

  • Art Classes & Workshops: Skill-based, hands-on learning for young and emerging artists of all ages and backgrounds.

  • Delhi Artist Studio Tours: Monthly curated visits to working studios, opening doors into the lives and processes of real artists.

  • Art Melas: Celebrating affordable art and community connection, these melas make beauty accessible while supporting the artists.

  • Mussoorie Exhibitions: Bringing curated artworks to serene hill stations, connecting audiences with art in new environments.

  • Art Center & Friends Network: The community behind the scenes — artists, supporters, volunteers — who keep the movement alive.You can be a part of it and get even get prints of your choice.

The Mountain Retreat: Where Art Slows Down

Located in the tranquil hills of Mussoorie, The Mountain Retreat is one of Art for Change’s most poetic offerings. This residential art space gives artists a chance to pause, reflect, and create in a quiet, contemplative setting — surrounded by nature, silence, and inspiration. It’s not just a retreat; it’s a reconnection. Artists are encouraged to explore their inner landscapes, away from noise and deadlines, and return to the city renewed, both in spirit and in purpose.

CAMI’s Takeaway

At CAMI, we believe that children’s creativity holds immense power — not just to express, but to empower. Art for Change shows us how art can be a voice, a mirror, and a bridge. Their work inspires us to help young artists create not just with colour and craft, but with conscience.

From art studios to mountain retreats, from underprivileged classrooms to art fairs — they are redefining what it means to create with purpose.

As we continue to nurture the next generation of artists, we carry this lesson with us: Art is not just what we make — it’s what we make it mean.



 
 
 

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