Overview

Bhutan is very rich with the culture of arts, craft and textile. The tradition of these arts was from more than several hundred years and Bhutanese are still practicing the art. Institute for Zorig Chusum or commonly known as Arts and Craft School or Painting School, is purposively instituted to teach the younger generation the art of craft and painting. The main mission of institute is the preserve and promotes the value of 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. National Institute for Zorig Chusum was established with a vision to produce high end skilled arts and crafts artisan to be gainfully employed and to promote culturally and traditionally enriched diversity of arts and crafts products striving towards socioeconomic development in achieving the Gross National Happiness. The institute of Zorig Chusum is located just above the National Library of Bhutan. It was established in 1971 with entire funding from the Royal Government of Bhutan. Today the following training and courses are providing by the institute of Zorig Chusum:

1. Sculptor
2. Woodcraft
3. Slate curving
4. Embroider or appliqué
5. Weaving

The courses are offered as regular or as short term course. According to the establishment documents of Institute for Zorig Chusum, the institute objectives is to promote Bhutanese culture through preservation of traditional arts and crafts, to revive the dying arts and crafts through research and transfer of traditional and professional skills to the youth. Any Bhutanese interest in the art with minimum of primary school high school grades can enroll for the training. Today, the Bhutanese are hugely benefitted with the skills for curving of the arts and also of the employment opportunities from the National Institutes for the Zorig Chusum.