Guidelines for National Level Kala Utsav 2018

1. Kala Utsav – The Legacy

Kala Utsav is an initiative of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, launched in 2015, to promote arts in education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talent of school students in the country. The Ministry of Human Resource Development recognises the importance of aesthetics and artistic experiences for secondary-level students, which play a major role in creating awareness of India’s rich cultural heritage and its vibrant diversity. In the context of education of Arts (Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts and Crafts), the initiative is guided by the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework2005 (NCF 2005).

Though India has a long tradition of art and artistic practices, a uniform process of identifying artistic talents in school education is yet to be developed. We also have the tradition of using arts in the process of learning. These traditions also show us the creative expansion from the individual to the community, which contributes towards the overall development of the society. Arts education may be perceived as a tool for development of aesthetic sensibility among learners to enable them to respond to the beauty in various forms, colours, sound and movement. Art integration in education helps to encourage creativity, develop problem-solving ability, and improves the ability to handle mental imagery for better expression.

Kala Utsav was started in 2015 and is has been regularly organised every year i.e. 2016, 2017 as a celebration of art forms in the school system. The District/State/National level Kala Utsav has been structured as an art festival to include performances and display of exhibits. The design of Kala Utsav helps students explore, understand and showcase their artistic talent of practicing different art forms. This event gives students the opportunity to understand and celebrate cultural diversity at school, district, state and national levels. It not only spreads awareness among students, but also creates awareness of India’s cultural heritage and its vibrant diversity among other stakeholders. Further, this will help to promote networking of artists, artisans and institutions with schools.

Kala Utsav helps in enhancing the various skills of the participants and prepare them as ambassadors of our culture. It helps the school students in identifying and understanding our diverse tangible and intangible cultural expressions.

This is not a one time activity but the beginning of a complete process of identifying, exploring, understanding, practicing, evolving and showcasing the artistic talent. Once part of the process, the participants do not just perform a piece from their living traditions, but rather live that cultural experience.

As an effort to mainstream students with special needs (differently – abled and from diverse socio-economic backgrounds) and celebrating their abilities, Kala Utsav is envisaged as a fully integrated platform. It provides an opportunity and favourable environment to nurture and showcase the talents of children with special needs (CWSN) and help in making learning more concrete, creative and joyful. Sharing the stage collectively by boys, girls, students from disadvantaged groups and students with special needs will be a precursor in breaking many existing stereotypes.

Students with special needs find an added opportunity to express their hidden talents in Kala Utsav through this initiative and provide them an opportunity to showcase their talent at the

national level. Participation of CWSN initiates a multiplier effect and serves as a source of inspiration for others to follow later.

2. General Guidelines for Kala Utsav

2.1 Art Forms

The focus of Kala Utsav – 2018 will be in any of the styles of traditional/ classical/ folk/ contemporary art forms. The following art forms will be included for competitions:

i. Vocal Music

ii. Instrumental Music

iii. Dance

iv. Painting

In Theater category, one act play competitions on 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi have been conducted in States/ UTs. 7 selected teams at Regional level out of the State/ UT level winning teams will perform at a national platform during the Kala Utsav. 2 teams from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti schools will also participate. Details of the same will be communicated separately.

2.2 Eligibility

Students of Classes 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of any Government, Government-aided and Private Schools can participate in Kala Utsav 2018. Private Schools and schools of other Central Government Organisations/Local Bodies (like CTSA/Demonstration Multipurpose Schools (DMS) of NCERT/Railways Schools, BSF/CRPF/Army/Airforce/Cantonment Boards/NDMC etc.) located in the State/Union Territory will participate at the district and state level competitions, etc., along with the other schools of the State/UT. The KVS and NVS will hold competitions amongst the KVS and NVS and the winning teams will participate as two separate teams from KVS and NVS at National Level. Thus, total teams participating at the National Level will be 38 [36 States/UTs+KVS+NVS].

2.3 National Level Kala Utsav

The best of the entries from State, UT, KVS, NVS in all the mentioned categories will showcase their talent during the National Level Kala Utsav which will be held at New Delhi in December 2018. For the national level competitions, in every area of arts, there will be a separate jury consisting of experts drawn from educators/practitioners/scholars of the respective art forms. Members of the jury will remain same for all the days of the event. The State, UT, KVS, NVS are advised to regularly visit the Kala Utsav website (http://www.kalautsav.in) for announcements and status updates.

Note: The boarding/lodging arrangements for the participating teams (with their escorts) as per permissible number of participants for each art form from States, UTs, NVS, KVS shall be made by NCERT, New Delhi.

2.4 Entries

This year, all competitions will be Solo and not in Groups. Each of the State, UT, KVS and NVS can send two entries i.e. one male and one female student in each art form. Thus each of the State, UT, KV, NV shall have total of eight entries in the art forms mentioned in para 2.1.

Entries for Kala Utsav, will have only student performers/artists who will prepare under the supervision of the school authorities. No involvement of professional artists or performers will be accepted. However, the teachers will be guiding/facilitating all related activities.

The maximum number of participants recommended in the team of the State, UT, KVS and NVS is:

Solo Music (Vocal)	1 Female student 1 Male student
Solo Music (Instrumental)	1 Female student 1 Male student
Solo Dance	1 Female student 1 Male student
Painting	1 Female student 1 Male student

Every State, UT, KVS and NVS will nominate one female teacher for female participants and one male teacher for male participants to accompany their teams. In case of CWSN, an additional escort can either be a parent or a teacher.

Thus, every State, UT, KVS and NVS will send a team consisting of 8 student participants and 23 teachers/ escorts i.e. a maximum of 11 persons from a State/UT and KVS/NVS.

2.5 Awards

All the winners (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd) will be awarded with cash prize, a trophy and medals in each art form. All participants will be given a certificate of participation. The Awards in each art form are as under:

First Prize: Rs. 25,000/-

Second Prize: Rs. 20,000/-

Third Prize: Rs. 15,000/-

3. Guidelines for the Competitions:

All Nodal Officers should personally see the entries, fill up the Declaration forms for the authentication given in Annexure I and II and verify it before uploading/ sending them.

3.1 Solo Music (Vocal)

* The duration of the performance will be 4-6 minutes.

* An additional 5 minutes will be given for technical setting/ removal, arrival and dispersal for the performance.

* The performance can be in any shaili/style – traditional, classical, folk, contemporary etc.

* Music recitals can be in any language or dialect.

* Costumes, settings, props and properties should relate to the presentation.

* Musical instruments can be played by teachers.

* Participants are allowed to sing on tracks or using the orchestra team.. The teams have to bring their own tracks etc.

* The organisers of the competition will provide accompanists such as Tabla, Dholak, Dhol, Naal, Harmonium, Keyboard. Please give your exact requirement in advance alongwith the form (Annexure – I) submitted by the Nodal Officer.

* No additional accompanists other than the participant or teacher will be permitted.

* The textual summary of the style and lyrics of the musical presentations need to be submitted in advance in not more than 100 words alongwith the form (Annexure – I) submitted by the Nodal Officer.

Evaluation Sheet — Music

Name of the State/ UT/ KVS/ NVS:
Title of the presentation:

Style (Shaili) of singing	Sur	Taal	Pronunciation of lyrics	Creativity	Authenticity	Presentation	Total Marks
10	20	20	15	10	10	15	100

3.2 Solo Music (Instrumental)

* The duration of the performance will be 4—6 minutes.

* An additional 5 minutes will be given for technical setting/ removal, arrival and dispersal for the performance.

* The performance can be on any shaili/style – traditional, classical, folk, contemporary.

* Any Indian Musical Instrument can be played in this category (Tabla, Mridangam, Sitar, Sarod, Bansuri, Guitar, Violin, Veena, Santoor, Shehnai etc.). Student will have to bring/ provide their own instrument.

* Costumes, settings, props and properties should relate to the presentation.

* The organisers of the competition will provide accompanists such as Tabla, Dholak, Dhol, Naal, Harmonium, Keyboard. Please give your exact requirement in advance alongwith the from (Annexure – I) submitted by the Nodal Officer.

* No additional accompanists other than the participant will be permitted.

* The textual summary of the style and lyrics of the musical presentations need to be submitted in not more than 100 words alongwith the form (Annexure – I) submitted by the Nodal Officer.

Evaluation Sheet — Instrumental Music

Name of the State/ UT/ KVS/ NVS:
Title of the presentation:

Style (Shaili) of playing

Sur

Taal

Composition/

content

Handling of the instrument

Authenticity and creativity

Presentation

Total

Marks

100

3.3 Solo Dance

* The duration of the performance will be 4–6 minutes.

* An additional 5 minutes will be given for technical setting/ removal, arrival and dispersal for the performance.

* The performance can be on any shaili/style – traditional, classical, folk, contemporary.

* Music can be either live or recorded.

* Costumes and make-up should be simple, authentic and thematic and relate to the presentation. Sets and costumes, etc., are to be arranged by the teams.

* The organizers of the competition will provide accompanists such as Tabla, Dholak, Dhol, Naal, Harmonium, Keyboard. Please give your exact requirement in advance alongwith the from (Annexure – I) submitted by the Nodal Officer.

* No additional accompanists other than the participant will be permitted.

* The textual summary of the style and lyrics of the musical presentations need to be submitted in not more than 100 words alongwith the forms submitted by the Nodal Officer in Annexure – I.

Evaluation Sheet — Dance

Name of the State/ UT/ KVS/ NVS:
Title of the presentation:

Style (Shaili) of dance	Sur/ piece of lyrics	Taal	Make up	Costume	Authenticity	Creativity	Presentation	Total Marks
10	15	15	10	10	10	15	15	100

3.4 Painting

* The entry in painting can be in any style (traditional/ regional or modern/ contemporary) and medium (water colour, crayons, pencil etc.).

* Each participant will be permitted one entry only comprising of a single painting.

* Participants will be expected to paint on the spot during the Kala Utsav. They should not bring any painting made earlier.

* They need not bring painting material with them but they can bring their own brushes and other tools required for the competition. Painting material will be provided at the venue. The specifications will need to be given in advance (eg. oil, acrylic, crayons, water colours etc.) along with the form (Annexure – I) submitted by the Nodal Officer.

* The size of painting should not be more than 3 ft. x 3 ft.

* Participants may be asked to narrate about the painting’s theme/ content/ demonstrate before the jury.

* The participants will be responsible for packaging and taking back their art work.

* All the teams will be provided space of 8ft × 8ft for working and display.

* The textual summary of the style and technique of the presentations need to be submitted either in Hindi or English in advance in not more than 100 words alongwith the form (Annexure – I) submitted by the Nodal Officer.

Evaluation Sheet — Painting

Name of the State/ UT/ KVS/ NVS:
Title of the presentation:

Selection of suitable theme	Composition	Originality	Fineness	Display	Overall impact	Presentation/ Narration	Total Marks
10	15	20	10	10	15	20	100

4. Role and Responsibilities of the State/UT Secretary/SPD/ Commissioners

All the entries from the States and UTs shall be approved by the Secretary, Education and in respect of KVS and NVS they shall be approved by the respective Commissioner before they are forwarded to the national level. The number of members of the teams should be as per the norms mentioned at 2.4. Only 2-3 escorts will be allowed from every State, UT, KVS, NVS to accompany students. No extra personnel from the State will be provided lodging/boarding or allowed entry to the competition venue. It will not be possible to accommodate extra people from any State, UT, KVS, NVS due to security reasons and paucity of space. The competent authority of the State, UT, KVS, NVS must ensure that teams are sent for the national level competitions strictly following the guidelines. If extra officials/personnel accompany the teams, then 2 marks per additional official/personnel will be deducted from the State/UT team score of the art form concerned.

In order to maintain smooth functioning of the Kala Utsav, it is requested that teachers/escorts accompanying the teams must ensure observance of proper discipline by students. The teachers/escorts of the respective team shall be held responsible for any misconduct by the team and in such cases the organisers will be forced to take action which may include deduction of marks from the overall evolution and debarring the State/UT/KVS/NVS for one year from participating in Kala Utsav. Teachers and students will ensure that there is no damage to infrastructure, furniture, etc., and that none of the participants indulge in any sort of misbehaviour or improper conduct. Before the teams are sent for national level competitions, the State/UT/KVS/NVS should brief the participants to co-operate with the local organisers and authority. Teachers/Escorts must keep a strict vigil on their team’s activity during the whole event. The students/teams found to be indulging in any form of misconduct/misbehaviour during the event shall be disqualified forthwith.

Annexure

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