A week long Art camp on Basohli miniature paintings was inaugurated by Director Tourism Jammu Sushma Chouhan at Basohli today.The Art Camp is being organized by Tourism Department in collaboration with Lakhanpur-Sarthal Tourism Development Authority and district administration, Kathua from Dec 14thto 20th December, 2016.Renowned artists from Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Basholi shall be participating in the weeklong camp.Underlining the significance of the art camp, Sushma Chauhan said that the objective behind organizing this camp is to promote the miniature Basholi Art Paintings and to appreciate and encourage the local budding artists and school Children.Basholi Painting, a school of pahari miniature painting that flourished in these hilly areas during 17th and 18thcenturies, is known for its colors and vitality. Basholi Paintings are characterized by strong use of primary colors and faces with receding foreheads and expressive eyes giving a distinct profile and identity to it.Participating artists shall also be taken to the familiarization tour to the tourist destinations like Sarthal, Bani, Lohang etc having immense potential for Leisure and Adventure Tourism so that they can replicate these destinations in their Art work for the promotion of Tourism.A painting competition of school children from 6th to 10th Std is also scheduled to be held at same venue on 19th of December,2016 with Prizes of Rs 11,000/-, 7000/- and 5000/- for first, second and third adjudged paintings.Among others, Sudershan Kumar, CEO Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority, Vinakshi Koul, Dy. Director Tourism, Jammu and other officers of the Department were also present on the occasion.