Discovering New Artists (DNA) is a youth-led social enterprise in Pakistan that provides an innovative space for children to utilise their strengths, discover their identities, find meaning in the community and explore world connections through the process of art and design. It creates creative learning opportunities for students from both private and low-income sectors through its one-to-one model.
Since inception in 2013, DNA has facilitated learning through art for more than 129,948 students on various social and global issues and enabled more than 64,974 children and youth to directly take part in its programmes. DNA aims to reach 500,000 students and youth by 2025, educating them about social and global issues through arts and STEM education.
DNA is among 14 other Youth Ventures Programme (YVP) awardees selected to receive project funding and technical support from The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT). Through the YVP, QCT is supporting DNA in the establishment of The Art for Change Atelier (TAFCA), a creative space for students’ holistic learning.
Since its establishment in April 2022, TAFCA has so far enrolled 36 students in its first round that took place in April, May, and June. These students were enrolled for a TAFCA practical workshops from various schools across Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan, both online and in person. Through the workshops the students experienced a vibrant environment where art stimulated new forms of learning and encouraged imagination, creativity, and self-directed inquiry on a diverse scale. DNA will display these artworks in its gallery therefore creating a global children and youth’s art space by DNA.
In its next enrolment round, TAFCA will take in another 150 marginalised students in August and September. This round will target under-resourced schools and enrol students free of costs and enable them to develop their imagination, world view and creativity around SDGs through arts and design. TAFCA aims to enrol a total of 400 students by end of March 2023.
