Background
International research results show that cultural education significantly impacts children and young people regarding the learning environment. Art and culture in schools make students more inventive, strengthen motivation and increase social and cultural competence. Knowledge of foreign cultures is an integral part of general education and will help to bridge between different cultures from other continents.
Norway Oriental Fine Arts Academy (NORKALAI) was established in Oslo on February 14, 2010, as a classical music, dance and cultural institution. Its founders were parents and well-wishers and developed it as a non-profit, voluntary umbrella organization that actively worked to promote arts and culture among children and young people. NORKALAI facilitated Tamil classical dance, music and culture from Asia and the rest of the world and actively promoted its activities among all Tamil people and other community groups in Norway. At that time, more than 12 private Tamil cultural schools in Oslo provided cultural education to about 600 children and young people. There were approximately 900 students. Students started at age 6 or 7 and studied for 8 to 9 years.
After eight years of function, NORKALAI entered a joint venture with Tamil Resource and Counselling Centre and established International Tamil Fine Arts Innovation Center (ITAC) in Oslo on October 25, 2018. ITAC aims to collaborate with other Tamil fine arts schools and centers in Europe and give young people the opportunity to formalize and value their cultural knowledge and identity that they have accumulated through many years of the parental initiatives. We consider this important in achieving our objectives as global citizens with Tamil European values. Our work is to motivate young people to use their expertise in arts, culture, science and technology, promote innovation and value creation, and develop creative citizens with the endurance to face tomorrow’s challenges.
ITAC’s Overall Organizational Goals
- Guiding, facilitating, spreading, driving, and further developing Tamil aesthetic creativity internationally
- Be an interest organization for organizations engaged in Tamil aesthetic creativity training
- Focus on “making a difference” in relationships organizations operating within the field of Tamil aesthetic creativity
Organizational Purpose
- Act as a guidance center for Tamil aesthetic creativity for all interested parties
- Facilitate a forum for the exchange of experience and expertise among organizations engaged in training in Tamil aesthetic creativity
- Implement activities together with organizations engaged in the training of Tamil aesthetic creativity for the purpose of competence development
- Implement activities that spread knowledge of Tamil aesthetic creativity to the large community
- Act as a link between government agencies and organizations engaged in Tamil aesthetic creativity
Our Goals
The overarching organizational goals of ITAC are:
- Guide, facilitate, spread, drive and further develop Tamil aesthetic creativity
- Be an interest organization for organizations deals with Tamil aesthetic creativity
- Focus on making a difference and creating value for member organisations
Our Values
- Innovation and creativity
- Cultural diversity
- Transparency and inclusion
- Identity building and preservation
- Spirit of service
Board Members
Ilangko Balasingham
Sutharshan Nadarajah
Rajendhram Ponnuthurai
Kalyani Thayaparan
Suntharamoorthy Kanesan
Sruthy Manoharan
Sivathasan Nadarajah