A first of its kind painting competition will be held on April 26, at the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) Complex in Dimapur. The event is being organized by the Abundant Life Foundation (ALF) in collaboration with the NEZCC, under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The competition will be followed by a mental health awareness session to be conducted by Perfect Vision, Dr. Ason as the resource person. The program will be held under the theme “Made with Love – Mi Familia.”
The announcement was made by ALF president, Arenee Patton Ngullie during a press conference held on April 17 at Bank Colony, Dimapur. She highlighted that the main motive was to encourage the young ones to come forward and source out the talents across the state and the Northeast.
She also expressed gratitude to the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) for collaborating with the foundation, noting that NEZCC shares a vision of preserving and promoting cultural heritage, nurturing artistic growth, encouraging cultural exchange, and finding harmony between tradition and modernity.
Ngullie highlighted that what sets the competition apart is its unique requirement for participants to enter as a duo one child and one parent, either mother or father.
The competition is inclusive and open to all children, including school dropouts and non-school-going youth and encouraged young ones to come forward.
The initiative was originally planned as a mental health awareness campaign but was later expanded into a painting competition to encourage greater community participation, aiming to foster creativity while highlighting the importance of mental health among children and their parents.
Participants will be divided into three age categories, 4–7 years, 8–12 years, and 13–17 years. Chart papers will be provided by the organizers, but participants are required to bring their own painting materials.
Nagaland artists Akup Phom and Sutiba will serve as judges for the painting competition, ensuring a fair and professional evaluation of the entries.
The event will also feature live performances by well-known artistes Alobo Naga and Abel Assumi.
A registration fee of Rs. 200 is applicable, and winners will be awarded cash prizes and certificates, while all participants will receive certificates of participation. Registrations for the event remain open until early next week. For more information and registration, one may contact at 9436274837 or 8974086744, or by emailing abundantlf.ngo@gmail.com.