Art in Bhutan

A central part of Bhutanese art is 13 traditional arts and crafts (Zorig Chusum). They include Lhadri or Lhazo as traditional painting, Jimzo as sculpture, Parzo as woodcarving, Shagzo as woodturning, Shingzo as carpentry and woodwork, Thagzo as weaving, Tshemzo as tailoring and embroidery, Troezo as gold and silversmithing, Garzo as blacksmithing, Lugzo as bronze casting, Dozo as masonry and Tshozo as papermaking. These forms shape religious objects, dzongs, monasteries, homes, textiles, restoration work and commissioned crafts. Sacred painting follows fixed proportions, symbols and requirements drawn from Buddhist scriptures. Religious sculptures, murals and other objects are therefore subject not only to aesthetic requirements but also to religious and conservation requirements. Religious relics and objects (Ku-Sung-Thug-Ten) may be subject to special rules concerning their production, use, storage and export. Formal training is offered mainly by the National Institute for Zorig Chusum in Thimphu and the College of Zorig Chusum in Trashi Yangtse. Programs range from certificates and diplomas to practical master training and mentoring. For example, a Jimzo diploma in Trashi Yangtse is designed to last 24 months with 2,000 teaching hours and 400 hours of practical work. Admission requirements, deadlines and documents vary by announcement. A 2025 skills call provided for a monthly stipend of 3,500 Bhutanese ngultrum (Ngultrum) for the full course period; this does not establish a general funding rule for all courses. Traditional music, folk songs, masked dances and religious festivals (Tshechus) are taught particularly through the Traditional Performing Arts and Music Division and the former Royal Academy of Performing Arts. Monasteries, dzongs, Tshechus and local communities also remain important performance venues. Participation and performance there depend on the occasion, location, religious rules and, where applicable, the organizer's consent. Contemporary art is supported, among other ways, by VAST Bhutan, independent studios, workshops, exhibitions, art fairs, commissions and exchange programs. VAST offers weekend courses, art camps and mentoring; depending on available teachers, the programs serve different age groups and may include photography, videography, installation or ceramics. Around 60 to 70 people attend certain weekend programs, while informal mentoring often reaches only a few learners per year. These paths do not replace a generally accessible national art university, but they can provide practical experience and contacts. Textile art, pattern development and design combine traditional production with new products. The Textile Museum and the Royal Textile Academy collect, preserve, research and display textiles, operate a weaving center, organize workshops and hold design competitions. The National Institute for Zorig Chusum also offers training in fashion and clothing design. For sales, origin, craft authenticity and membership in recognized craft or market structures matter. Architecture and design are often connected with Bhutanese building forms, ornamental Zorig elements and the Bhutanese Architecture Guidelines. Construction, alteration or restoration may involve the Building Code, permit procedures and additional reviews at protected cultural sites. The artistic design of a building must therefore be distinguished from general construction matters and from the requirements of the relevant site. Literature is produced in Dzongkha, English and other local languages. The Dzongkha Development Commission performs work related to language, publishing and oral literature. Publications, readings, publishers, digital platforms and community-based literary practice exist, but they are not organized into one uniform national literary sector. Film productions follow separate procedures: BICMA requires approval before every feature, short, documentary or advertising film; certification may also be required for screening and distribution. The Film Grant for cultural and socially oriented artistic projects provides partial production support to eligible Bhutanese filmmakers. Photography, digital art and animation are developing mainly through independent production and through design, technology and creative-industry contexts. No separate national academy for digital art has been documented. When taking photographs or making recordings, consent, privacy, usage rights and the rules of sacred sites must be considered. The Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property handles matters concerning the creative industries, copyright, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. The Copyright Act of 2001 protects literary and artistic works, performers, sound recordings and broadcasts. Economic rights may be transferred wholly or partly in writing and with a signature. Anyone planning a performance or the use of someone else's recording should therefore clarify the required permission; voluntary copyright registration is possible. Museums and cultural sites provide another way to access art. They include the National Museum in Paro, the Royal Heritage Museum in Trongsa, the Ta-Dzong Museum in Trashigang and the Textile Museum. The Museums Division of the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development protects, preserves and presents cultural heritage. Admission to the National Museum in Paro is 500 Ngultrum for international visitors and 100 Ngultrum for residents; certain groups may receive free admission. Opening hours, guided tours and advance bookings depend on the individual institution. Religious cultural objects and antiquities cannot be exported without restriction. The responsible Antiquities Division inventories and conserves such objects and controls the export of cultural property. An export permit may be required for non-antique objects. Work on protected cultural sites, their restoration or structural alteration is subject to permit and monitoring procedures. Fees, material costs, deadlines and access requirements vary according to the course, location, institution, organizer and announcement.