Kuvempu Kala Sanstha Ken School of Art (popularly known as Ken School of Art) is one of the three art schools in the city. The other two schools of art in Bangalore are Chitrakala Parishat, Kumarakrupa Road and Kala Mandir, Basavanagudi. The speciality of Ken Art School is that it collects no donations and admits talented middle class rural students. Every year about 30 students graduate from here. Over a 1,000 students have graduated from here during the last three decades. The art school teaches both painting and sculpture.

The Founder Secretary, Ken School of Art, R M Hadapad, in an interview to bangalorebest.com said that for a cosmopolitan city like Bangalore just three art schools are not enough. He also stressed that the State and Union Governments should come out with a "Cultural Policy" and give more impetus to art and sculpture teaching institutions. Private organisations, rich art patrons should open more number of art schools, Hadapad stressed. Excerpts of the interview.

When was the Ken School of Art started?
Ken School of Art was started in 1968 as Kuvempu Kala Sanstha Ken Art School of Art. Ken means knowledge or deep sensibility.

Who are the people behind it?
I am the founder and secretary.

Does your school of art get any Government aid?
The State Government is paying salaries to the art teachers. Compared to other state governments in the country Karnataka gives lesser funds to art schools.

What is the criteria you follow in admitting the students?
Any matriculate can appear for an entrance test which we conduct here. The entrance test consists of four types: Oral test, written test, visual test and memory test. Those who pass out of the entrance test will be admitted to the art courses available here.

What are the courses you offer and what is the duration of each course?
We offer three types of courses. Professional Art Course (5 years), Art Education Course (5 years) and Hobby Classes in Art. Ken School of Art teaches for six and half hours every day to the students. During summer holidays, we conduct art classes for children.

So far, how many students have graduated from your institution?
Over the last three decades, more than 1,000 students have graduated from our school.

Do you invite art professors or eminent artists to lecture for your students?
Yes. We do invite specialised art experts to lecture and discuss with our students. Along with their lectures, the visiting art professionals demonstrate their art to our students. This inspires our students a lot.

What is the course fees?
Course fees is fixed as per the guidelines of the State Government. The course fees is very nominal.

Do you help your students after they complete their course?
Some organisations and industries are in touch with our school. Whenever they need art designers and other such related personnel they send us letters inviting applications from our students. Scholarships are also available to the students to pursue higher studies of art in universities like Royal College, London, and Baroda University (two years course in art).

Who are the famous alumni of your school?
Many of my students are working abroad. C Chandrashekar, one of our students was the Chairman of Karnataka Lalitakala Academy. Another famous artist, Sheila Gowda, who works in London, was also a student of Ken School of Art.

Do you sell the works of art created here?
No. We don't sell any art works here. We fear that may instil a commercial attitude in the minds of our students.

Do you conduct exhibitions here?
We conduct art exhibitions of our final year students in art galleries like Venkatappa Art Gallery in the city. At such exhibitions, the students can sell their art works.

Those interested may contact
Mr Hadapad at:

Address:
Ken School of Art,
Next to Sheshadripuram Post Office,
Bangalore - 560 020.
Phone: 2344 7193.

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