Tibetan folk artist Sunnuoqilin sees many benefits from his
interactions with primary school students. His art lessons provide
them with new ways to make a living.
"In a remote, mountainous area like Tangdui, agriculture is the
hard means of living," said the 55-year-old master of the
Tibetan-style black pottery.
About 80 percent of the local households in Tangdui, in Shangri
La County of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture produce
hand-made black pottery works and sell them to tourists, both
domestic and international.
In a project spearheaded by experts from the Centre of
Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge in Yunnan, Sunnuoqilin has
invited groups of students from the Tangdui Township Primary School
to his pottery studio in order to teach them pottery-making
skills.
"I believe many of the primary students who are interested in
this folk art and can have a good command of the skills may be able
to earn their living as qualified pottery makers if, in the future,
they fail in college entrance exams," he said.
Wu Yuqi, a former carpenter and headmaster of a vocational
school in Jianchuan County, Dali Bai Ethnic Autonomous Prefecture
in southern Yunnan Province, agrees with the Tibetan master
"Students in my school, armed with both knowledge and skills they
have learned both from teachers and folk craftsmen, will have more
job opportunities than those less prepared," said Wu.
Wu's school offers not only diversified training courses in folk
arts and crafts including carpentry and pottery making but also
creates internships for students in arts and crafts companies where
students can work closely with folk artists and learn their
trade.
(China Daily December 5, 2006)