Creative carnival

Creative Carnival is a travelling art project by Chalantika Mobile Studio, designed to take hands-on creative experiences beyond fixed studio spaces and into different neighborhoods across Dhaka city. The initiative transforms mobility into a method—where a fully equipped studio, packed with clay, printing presses, inks, rollers, and colors, travels to varied destinations, turning everyday urban spaces into temporary sites of artistic exploration.

At the heart of Creative Carnival is the belief that art becomes more inclusive and impactful when it reaches people where they are. By setting up pop-up studios in diverse locations, the project invites spontaneous participation, encourages curiosity, and removes the barriers often associated with formal art spaces. Each destination offers a new context, shaping how participants interact with materials, processes, and one another.

On 23 September 2023, Chalantika hosted a day-long Creative Carnival event in partnership with Ground Zero at Tejgaon Link Road. The location became a vibrant hub of activity as participants engaged in clay work and printmaking throughout the day. The mobile setup allowed visitors to witness the complete creative process—from preparation of materials to hands-on making—within an open and accessible environment.

The collaboration with Ground Zero added a dynamic urban dimension to the event, drawing in participants from different backgrounds and age groups. The day unfolded as a shared creative experience, marked by experimentation, conversation, and collective energy. Participants were encouraged to explore materials freely, express ideas visually, and engage with one another through the act of making.

Creative Carnival continues to reflect Chalantika’s commitment to mobility, accessibility, and community engagement. By reimagining the studio as a moving entity, the project challenges conventional notions of where art belongs and affirms creativity as an everyday, shared practice—capable of transforming any space into a site of learning, expression, and connection.