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We are a Pottery Studio specialising in ceramic courses in India. This winter, we are inviting applications for the Artist Residency Program in this quiet Himalayan town of Dharamkot. It is an initiative by Dharamkot Studio to support the creative individuals by offering our space where you can create and get inspired under the shade of mighty Dhauladhars ranges of Indian Himalayas. Winter is that time of year when things slow down. Mountains are in their full glory with cold blanketing the entire valley. When the sun shines, it touches more than the surface of the skin, it soothes the soul. It is the perfect time to slow down, prioritise the self and pursue things that will bring creative depth in your being.

About The Artist Residency

We are offering two types of artist residencies: Fully-funded residencies and Self-funded residencies.
Being a ceramic school in India, we are providing fully funded residencies only for the ceramic artists and art curators. Artists from other mediums can apply for self-funded residencies. We are accepting applications from a wide range of mediums, one can find the details by visiting our website.

Also read: How To Apply For Winter Artist Residency by Dharamkot Studio

What will your day look like in the Residency?

  • Though it is difficult to define the schedule of the residency because we wish to offer you a very organic process and environment for creating, we’ll still try to define how your day might look like.
  • (Early Morning) You could start your day with a small walk, or just take it easy. We have plenty of walking spaces near the studio. There are two flag points nearby, and some walks with no particular names. Our team will help you with the directions.
  • 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Breakfast time. You can choose from a range of options available such as hot drinks,shakes, sandwiches, cereal bowls, fruit bowls, eggs etc.
  • 10:00 am to 4:00 pm: You could work during this hour. The studio receives plenty of sunshine during the day making it a very cosy and appealing environment to indulge in creative work.
  • 2:00 pm: Lunch will be available at the studio. An in–house cafeteria provides delicious and healthy vegetarian food. Vegan or gluten-free food is also available on request. We have a fixed menu that changes everyday.
    After 4:00 pm: You could take a walk to catch the sunset or go to nearby cafes in the evening to relax and rejuvenate after a long day of work. We’ll share a list of cafes on your Day 1.
  • 7:00 pm: Chill and relax by the bon-fire in the evening. Chat with the fellow participants and in-house artists. You could use this time to collaborate with other artists present at the venue or also plan your outings during the rest of your stay.
  • 8-9:00 pm: Dinner will be ready in the kitchen. Just like lunch, dinner changes everyday. Piping hot delicious food that excites the taste buds will be available everyday.

Who else will be there?

  • Dharamkot Studio team will be available at the studio to help you out with everything.
  • There will be other artists at the studio practising their own art.
  • Studio artists will be present at the studio engaged in their own creative pursuits.
  • There are times when we also have visitors coming over to the studio.
  • Our team will be available to address all your needs.
  • Cheeku, our studio cat, will not miss an opportunity to play peekaboo with you.

About Dharamkot

Dharamkot is a small hill station in Kangra district in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India. Perched at an altitude of 2100 m, Dharamkot offers the stunning views of Dhauladhar ranges of Indian Himalayas. This town celebrates spirituality. It offers the travellers the much needed space for relaxation and rejuvenation.Tushita Meditation Centre and Vipassana Meditation Centre are also located here making it a centre of Buddhism studies and meditation. Dharamkot has been famous among travellers of the world and hippies since the 1970s because of its pristine environment, proximity to H.H. Dalai Lama, and a variety of wellness activities such as meditation, yoga, and massage. During the winter months of January and February months, the town is in semi-hibernation mode with very little activity with major centres of mediation and yoga on break.

Also Read: About Dharamkot Studio

Things To Do In Dharamkot?

  • In this mountain town, during winters, you could engage in wonderful hikes. Mornings are delightful and buzzing with people chattering over a cup of tea and soaking the sun.
  • You could also go for village hikes to explore the rural settings.
  • We have a studio number 2, that hosts daily pottery workshops including hand-building and pottery wheel workshops.
  • We also support local arts such as Kangra and Thangka that you could try when we host painting workshops.
  • Spending a few days in this town and its neighbouring areas while interacting with people, stories and the flora-fauna of this place will help you explore a new cultural landscape. This understanding could be used in your creative work as well.
  • 1.5 kms from the studio is the beautiful town of Mcleodganj. You could walk to this place or take a vehicle. Explore cafe’s and just take a walk through its vibrant streets to get a feel of this charming place.
  • Mcleodganj is also the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. One can visit the Tsuglagkhang Complex to experience the monastery-like vibe in Mcleodganj.
  • You can also visit the museum to understand Tibetan culture and history.
    10 kms from Dharamkot is a beautiful town of Dharamshala. You can go to Tea Gardens, Cricket Stadium and Ropeway.
  • You can visit Norbulingka Institute. Norbulingka believes in the preservation and continuation of Tibetan art through self-sustaining means. Under the guidance of talented masters, artists and craftspeople with ancestral knowledge, the institute provides jobs to a community of over 300 Tibetans. The visitors are welcome to explore the beautiful campus and witness firsthand the splendour of Tibetan art.

What can you expect from our team?

  • Our team will help you from pick up to drop off once you arrive here.
  • There will be a dedicated person to help you with check-in and check-out.
  • A dedicated team member will be available to help with anything that you might need.
  • We will try to organise community meetups and movie nights once in a while to help you relax and rejuvenate.

The idea of this residency is to promote art and creativity at our studio. In this process, we are inviting applicants to experience the joy of living in the mountains during winters. We’ll help you with everything starting from getting acquainted with the place, feel like a community and help you organise things that you might need to create beautiful and inspiring art. Whether it is ceramic or other mediums such as visual, digital or literary, or anything that falls into the category of art, our residency is open for all. Are you ready to spend your winters pursuing a creative passion? If yes, consider applying for this residency program.

ACTIVITY
Day 1 (Friday) - Today, you will arrive in the serene village of Dharamkot. We recommend you check-in to our Studio latest by 12PM, though checkin time is till 2PM.
After settling-in to your rooms, you will be served lunch at the cafeteria.

At 4 PM, you will start with your first workshop “An Introduction to Pottery”. This workshop will take about 2.5 to 3 hrs.
At night, you will indulge in dinner (possibly around a bonfire depending on weather) and then relax.
Day 2 (Saturday) - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: You will begin the day with guided meditation in Dharamkot.
On returning, you will be served a sumptuous breakfast in our cafe.

At around 11:30 AM, you will head to the Studio for your second workshop. Today we will split the group in two batches for personalised attention to all participants. One group will attend the “Hand-building- pinching” workshop and the other will learn the “Intro to Pottery Wheel” workshop. The first workshop will continue till 2:00 PM.
Then you will break for lunch. We recommend that after lunch, you take it some time for yourself and relax.
Post-lunch rest, you will take the second workshop from the above two starting from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM, depending on what you did in the morning.
Wrap up your dinner at our cafe.
Day 3 (Sunday) - Today is a mix of learning and exploration!

After breakfast, you will attend the fourth workshop (11:00 AM TO 1:30 PM) on “Texturing/Surface Decoration”.
Then after lunch, you will start your local sightseeing tour. Our expert local guides will take you to the Dalai Lama Temple, St. John’s in the Wilderness Church and the Mcleodganj Market. Take time to experience the spiritual energy of Dharamshala.
You can either return to the Studio with our guide in a cab which departs by 6 PM or stay longer and take a taxi back.
Dinner will be served in the evening but you can also explore one of the many restaurants/ bars in Mcleodganj.
Day 4 (Monday) - 9:00 AM TO 10:00 AM: You will begin the day with sound-healing or yoga at one of the many renowned centres in Dharamkot.

Then, head back to the Studio for breakfast and another day of pottery learning. You will now learn the advanced techniques in pottery making in your fifth and sixth art sessions.
We will again split the group in two batches for personalised attention to all participants. One group will attend the “Advanced Hand-building- Slab/coiling method” workshop and the other will learn the “Wheel Throwing/ Shaping Technique” workshop. The first workshop will be scheduled from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
Then you will break for lunch.
Post-lunch, you will take the second workshop from the above two, depending on what you did in the morning. This will start from 4:00 PM and continue till 6:30 PM.
Wrap up your dinner at our cafe. By now you must have made friends with instructors and other participants, so we are sure you have some amazing conversations.
Day 5 (Tuesday) - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Today, you will start your day with a warm cup of tea & Nature Walk to Naddi. The trail meanders through the forests, offering stunning views of the valley below and the distant mountain ranges.

Then, head back to the Studio for breakfast. You will now attend the last and seventh art session on “ surface decoration with Coloured Under-Glazes”. The session will be from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
After lunch, you can spend the rest of the day at leisure. You can pick your favourite thing to do today…finish off your artwork with some guidance from our instructors, head out and take a hike, go shopping, spend a lazy day in a cafe, walk around the flag point for sunset…the choices are endless. We will see you back at the Studio at 7 PM for our farewell dinner.
Day 6 (Wednesday) - Today is the day we bid adieu! After breakfast, it’s time to pack up and gaze at the Dhauladhar range for one last time till we see you again. The check-out is at 11 AM.

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INCLUDEDNOT INCLUDED
5 nights accommodationAirfare
All meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)Alcohol
Pottery SessionsCourier charges for shipping Art pieces you create
Half- Day tour to McleodganjBank fee/ Money exchange fee/ Other payment charges
Nature walk, Yoga/Meditation SessionsLaundry
Art Supplies

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ACTIVITY
Day 1:
Arrive for check-in before 2 pm, allowing yourself to acclimate to the retreat atmosphere.
Explore your surroundings, connect with fellow participants, and commence your artistic journey with the first session from 4 pm to 6:30 pm(Charcoal).
Evening relaxation and dinner.
Day 2:
Wake up with leisure.
11:30 am: Your Thangka workshop will start.
Workshop will continue till 2:00 pm.

2:00 PM: Drive to Norbulingka.
Norbulingka is a self-sustaining community, where all members contribute to the larger vision of preserving Tibetan culture through the arts. It is a delight for travelers to see various Tibetan art forms such as paintings and woodwork.

Have lunch at one of the few restaurants at Norbulingka and explore the premises.
5:30 pm drive back to your hotel.
Evening relaxation and dinner.
Day 3:
(8:00 to 9:00 am) Start your day with yoga/meditation (8:00 to 9:00 am)
(11:00 am-1:30 pm) After breakfast, Acrylic pouring workshop at Dharamkot Studio- 2 (7 minutes walk from the hotel).
After lunch at the studio, you’ll meet your guide who’ll take you for a walk and exploration of Mcleodganj.
Take a beautiful walk around Dalai Lama Temple, explore cafes and shop if you wish.
Our guide will be with you till 6 pm.
After that, you can return to stay or get cozy in one of the many cafes of Mcleodganj.
The distance between Mcleodganj and your stay is just 2-3 km from the hotel.
Day 4:

(9:00 to 10:00 am) Start your day with yoga/meditation.
(11:30am to 3:00pm) Kangra Painting workshop

After the session, walk back to your stay, have lunch, and relax for a while.
(5:00- 6:30 pm) Nature hike to the sunset viewpoint with the guide.
Return to the comfort of your stay in the evening and then enjoy the night as you wish.
Day 5:
(8:30 to 9:30 am): Sound healing.
(11:00 am-1:30 pm) After breakfast, Paint on Pottery workshop at Dharamkot Studio- 1 (7 minutes walk from the hotel).
After the session, you’re free to explore and spend your day as you desire.
Indulge in walks, cafe hopping, or shopping.
Day 6:

As the retreat concludes, savor a moment to absorb the scenic beauty of the Dhauladhar ranges. Check-out is at 11 am after a satisfying breakfast.

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InclusionsExclusions
Accommodation all daysPick-up & drop from the airport/bus stand
Lunch on Day 2 & Day 3Meals
All workshops with materialsNothing not mentioned in the inclusions
Art pieces made during the workshops.Bank fee/ Money exchange fee/ Other payment charges
Activities such as Yoga, Meditation & Sound Healing
Laundry
Norbulingka Institute Visit and Mcleodganj Walk
Nature hike
Internal transfers
Guide where required.

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