The Samtse Workshop on Art, Writing, Film and Spirituality

Samtse 2020 was a gathering of Bhutanese artists, writers, actors, singers, poets, filmmakers, explorers, musicians, painters, dancers, and creators, all coming together to celebrate our expressions and our reflections. This was coming together to celebrate Bhutanese creativity and spirituality.  It was all about reintroducing and reviving the connection between the creators and storytellers of today with the spiritual wisdom tradition of the past. It was a great opportunity for Lhomon Education (LME) to be a part of this program in understanding how education should unfold and accommodate these creativities into the curriculum and its activity.

Mr Dawa represented LME at the workshop which was a joint initiative between The Samtse (Khey-chi Khey-chi) and the Royal University of Bhutan. The inaugural workshop was scheduled at the Samtse College of Education (SCOE), from the 7th of March to the 10th of March, 2020. The workshop saw leading Bhutanese and foreign figures from the fields of art, writing, filmmaking and other spheres of creativity, together with the future teachers of Bhutan who is present students of SCOE.

The four-day workshop was to provide an opportunity for attendees to exchange views, experiences and ideas in ways that can encourage and foster creativity and

spirituality in their lives and their respective fields of interest. Through interactive sessions, film screenings, creative performances and discussions, the workshop was to reintroduce and revive the ancient connections between the storytellers and the future teachers of Bhutan on the one hand and the wisdom traditions of our rich spiritual heritage on the other.

The workshop was also to bridge and connect leading Bhutanese artists and creators with acclaimed international artists, especially artists who have been true in keeping the element of ‘spirituality as their primary inspiration for creativity. Through such interactions, the organizers seek to empower and inspire our own homegrown talents and creators to take the initiative to create authentic Bhutanese stories on their own unique canvases.

Following the inaugural workshop, the Samtse in collaboration with the Royal University of Bhutan will create a calendar of activities to work towards establishing Samtse as a centre for contemplation and art to nurture and promote spirituality and creativity with a focus on our youth.