Learning, Creating, and Exploring Through Art
About the Project
The world of children is often beyond adult imagination. A World of My Own offered a platform for this imagination to flourish across various mediums. This creative learning initiative was hosted by the Museum of Goa and the Children’s Art Studio, in collaboration with Paint Club Goa, from 4th to 7th April 2019.
Over four exciting days, MOG became a space where young voices and creativity thrived. Children thought freely, explored boldly, and expressed themselves without limits. They became artists, storytellers, and co-creators of the worlds they imagined.
Vision and Goals
Like many of MOG’s initiatives, A World of My Own placed creativity and dialogue at the centre of learning. The programme aimed to provide children with the space, materials, and freedom to shape their own narratives. Every idea mattered—no idea was too small or too unusual.
The initiative focused on:
- Encouraging individuality and self-expression
- Exploring creativity with accessible materials
- Promoting collaboration and storytelling
- Introducing environmental awareness through creative reuse
Transforming the Museum Space
The Museum of Goa transformed into a child-friendly space that celebrated children and their ideas. Structured workshops, drop-in stations, and guided tours ran throughout the event. Every corner welcomed exploration, and every wall invited imagination.
Children didn’t just observe art—they created it, curated it, and proudly displayed it.
The Art Exhibition
At the heart of the programme was a vibrant exhibition featuring over 200 original artworks by children aged 9 to 14. Under the mentorship of Chaitali Morajkar, founder of Paint Club Goa, the children curated and installed the displays themselves.
The exhibition included:
- Drawings and paintings that showcased the children’s unique worlds
- Co-curated displays designed by the young artists
- Handmade storybooks created by Russian and Ukrainian students mentored by author Victoria Fillina
A highlight was the Godhadi Patchwork Installation, a collective artwork made by over 2,500 children as part of the No Time to Waste environmental awareness programme. This traditional quilt form served as a canvas for self-portraits and shared stories.
Highlights and Workshops
Mini Godhadi-Making by Bookworm Goa
Children explored the tradition of Godhadi quilting through a paper-based collage activity. The workshop began with a yarn-circle to build connection.
Giant Dolls’ House by Louise Ten Bosch
Participants built miniature rooms using shoeboxes and found materials. They explored the idea of ‘home’ with warmth and care. These rooms later became part of a larger installation displayed at MOG.
Storybook Creation by Victoria Fillina
Even children as young as five created their own illustrated storybooks. Those who couldn’t write used collage, drawing, and cut-outs to tell imaginative stories.
Galaxy Printing by Chaitali Morajkar
Children experimented with sponge printing inspired by galaxies. They explored colour, texture, and abstraction with joyful spontaneity.
Metamorphic Drawing Workshop
Using folded paper, children collaboratively drew hybrid characters. Each child illustrated a section without seeing the others, resulting in whimsical, unexpected creations.
Theatre and Movement with Arundhati Chattopadhyaya
This workshop invited children to explore storytelling through movement, role-play, and improvisation. It concluded with a calming visualisation exercise called “Melt Down.”
Recycled Crafts Station led by Blandina Noronha
Children used natural and recycled materials to create bottle art, painted stones, and simple collages. This drop-in station encouraged creativity through sustainability.
Interactive Museum Engagements
Beyond workshops, the museum buzzed with activity. MOG storytellers led guided tours. Interactive spaces invited children and families to play, reflect, and participate.
Memorable installations included:
- A doodle wall inside the museum elevator where children answered, “If you could be an animal, what would you look like?”
- A giant chilli canvas and trampoline outline for self-portraits
- A life-sized Jenga game for unstructured, creative interaction
Cultural Exchange and Participation
The programme encouraged global exchange. Storybooks submitted by Ukrainian and Russian children added a rich, cross-cultural layer. Young visitors from Goa and abroad shared creative dialogue and ideas.
Participation Highlights:
- Over 115 children from Paint Club Goa contributed artworks to the core exhibition
- More than 1,500 students from across Goa joined the Godhadi installation
- Hundreds of children, parents, and teachers attended open sessions and drop-in activities
Celebration and Closing
On 7th April 2019, A World of My Own concluded with a joyful closing ceremony. Guests included Subodh Kerkar, Dilip Borkar, MJF Lion Vasudev Valawalkar, and Chaitali Morajkar. Children received certificates and took centre stage as proud artists.
Lasting Impact
The success of A World of My Own extended beyond participation numbers—it left a lasting emotional and creative impact.
Key outcomes:
- Increased confidence in visual and verbal expression
- Awareness about sustainability through creative recycling
- Participation in the complete artistic process—from creation to exhibition
- A sense of joy, ownership, and community
Partners and Collaborators
This programme was made possible by dedicated artists, educators, and community leaders, all of whom brought creativity, care, and passion to the experience.
Special thanks to:
- Paint Club Goa and Chaitali Morajkar
- Bookworm Goa
- Victoria Fillina
- Louise Ten Bosch
- Arundhati Chattopadhyaya
- Blandina Noronha and the MOG Creative Team
- No Time to Waste Environmental Programme
- Local schools, teachers, and parent volunteers
Conclusion
A World of My Own showcased the incredible creativity of children. The Museum of Goa became not just a place for children to view art, but a space to create it.
Through collaborative installations and expressive workshops, children explored, imagined, and expressed themselves freely. The programme proved that when young voices lead, creativity thrives.
Join the Movement
A World of My Own is just one of the many initiatives that the Museum of Goa organises to make art inclusive and accessible. We continue to build experiences that bring together children, artists, and educators to shape new narratives.
- Learn more about other MOG initiatives
- Stay in the loop with MOG’s daily buzz — follow us on Instagram.
- Want to collaborate? MOG and the Children’s Art Studio would love to hear from you.
Let’s keep building worlds of our own , together.
