A vibrant arts showcase at Jalal Baba Auditorium showcases Hazara’s rich talent, fosters the growth of young artists and strengthens Abbottabad’s cultural identity through inclusive exhibitions and creative collaboration. PHOTOS: EXPRESS
ABBOTTABAD:
A vibrant art exhibition organized by the Abbottabad Academy of Performing Arts (AAPA) has renewed optimism among artists, students and art lovers of Hazara division, highlighting the region’s rich creative talent and the growing need for dedicated cultural platforms.
Held at the Jalal Baba Auditorium in collaboration with the Hazara Abaseen Arts Council, the event combined the Art Line Academy certificate ceremony with a large-scale exhibition showcasing paintings, calligraphy and creative works by established and emerging artists from across Hazara.
Visitors described the exhibition as a refreshing and much-awaited cultural initiative, noting that it was the first time in several years that artists from different districts of Hazara could collectively showcase their work under one roof in Abbottabad.
Calligrapher Imama Rizwan highlighted the importance of such a platform in the region, saying artists earlier had to travel to Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other major cities to exhibit their works. She said the exhibition reflected the immense creative potential of young artists and demonstrated their ability to express contemporary ideas through art.
Chief guest and renowned artist Nasir Shahzad praised the initiative, saying it showed the abundance of Hazara artistic talent. He said artists need guidance, mentorship and opportunities rather than motivation alone, describing AAPA as a significant step towards building a sustainable arts ecosystem.
Senior artist and vice-chairman of Hazara Abaseen Arts Council, Qazi Zubair, praised the organizers for bringing together established and emerging artists on one platform. He said such initiatives help project a positive image of Abbottabad and strengthen the cultural identity of the region.
Veteran artist Parvez Khan expressed his joy at exhibiting his work to the local audience after nearly five decades of showcasing art across Pakistan. He described the experience as fulfilling a long-held aspiration and encouraged young people to pursue the visual arts for creativity, personal development and emotional expression.
AAPA Executive Director Safdar Hussain said the academy was established to create a shared platform for artists, students and cultural practitioners to collaborate and develop. He noted that more than a dozen artists participated in the inaugural exhibition, while public response indicated a strong demand for cultural activities in the region.
He further announced plans to launch a series of performing arts and creative programs aimed at providing training, mentoring and opportunities to young artists regionally and nationally.
