Nestled in Kabesa, just 10 km from Thimphu, Choki Traditional Art School (CTAS) is a private institution dedicated to nurturing the talents of financially disadvantaged youth with a passion for Bhutanese traditional arts. As a full-time school with a comprehensive curriculum, CTAS blends practical training with theoretical learning to ensure students gain both skill and understanding. Our greatest satisfaction lies in delivering quality education that empowers graduates to find meaningful employment while safeguarding Bhutan’s artistic heritage.
At CTAS, we deeply value the support of our well-wishers and partners, whose contributions strengthen our community and help us realize our mission. Students are encouraged to grow in a caring, stimulating, and challenging environment guided by our core values of *excellence, respect, equality, and joy in learning*. We aim to instill respect for self and others, foster sincerity, honesty, and loyalty, and nurture a strong sense of responsibility and compassion.
Education at CTAS is provided *free of cost*, ensuring that every child with genuine interest in Bhutanese arts can learn, regardless of financial background. Our curriculum is continually reviewed to help students of all abilities reach their full potential. Alongside traditional art training, we offer extracurricular programs in innovative learning and creativity, English, Mathematics, Dzongkha, IT, cultural activities, sports, Driglam Namzha (Bhutan’s code of etiquette), prayers, farming, gardening, and environmental values.
CTAS is formally recognized and certified as a private training institute by the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan. Our students have proudly won several national competitions, and many alumni are now successfully employed, contributing to society as artisans, employers, and cultural custodians.
We remain steadfast in our mission: to make our students employable, to uphold and promote Bhutanese traditional arts and crafts as symbols of identity, values, and sovereignty, and to contribute meaningfully to the pursuit of *Gross National Happiness*, the visionary development philosophy of our beloved Kings.
Choki Traditional Art School (CTAS) was established in 1999, commemorating the silver jubilee coronation celebration of His Majesty the Fourth King. The school was founded by Thrimdep Choki Dorji, a veteran artist who established the Zorig Chusum Institute in Kawangjangsa in early 1970s, with the approval of Her Royal Highness Ashi Dechen Wangmo Wangchuck, then the representative of His Majesty the King in the Ministry of Development.
After his retirement from Civil Service, few children who were interested to learn arts but could not get admission in the National Painting School due to qualification requirement approached for his support. His interest and love for the profession and zeal to keep alive the zorig chusum (13 Arts and Crafts) inspired him to teach these children at his house. These students come from humble family and faraway places so he kept them in his house and provided free food and lodge. Soon enough the news spread and many parents started bringing their children. Thus the idea to establish a small school and provide learning opportunity for the economically and disadvantaged children was conceived.
During their first two years, students study traditional rimo drawing, the foundation for future specialized study of more complex crafts. Additional practices covered include thanka (scroll) painting, patra (carving), thag-zo (weaving), and tshem-zo (embroidery). These skills are several of the zorig chusum, or “thirteen crafts,” Bhutan’s major traditional crafts. They represent hundreds of years of cultural practice, and many Bhutanese see their identity and history reflected in these crafts.
A premium Institute that strives for cultural & traditional sustainability through empowerment of youth.
1. Preserve and promote traditional arts and crafts;
2. Empower Bhutanese youth with livelihood skills;
3. Support and educate youth who are socially and economically disadvantaged;
1. Ensure high quality arts & crafts program;
2. Enhance employability of the students in the market;
3. Ensure sustainability of the program;
4. Develop institutional linkages both within and outside the country for improved exchange of knowledge and skills; and
5. Keep up to date with technology and mainstream green and sustainable practices as integral part to development and delivery of program
Name: Choki Traditional Arts School
Location: Kabesa, Thimphu, Bhutan
School Type: Private Co-ed Art School
Students: 160 (123 boys; 37 girls)
Education Medium: Dzongkha (National Language)
Boarding Facility: Yes
Facilities include:
His Majesty the Fifth Druk Gyalpo awarded the National Order of Merit to Dasho Choki Dorji on 17th December 2010 on the National Day celebration for promotion of arts and culture in the country and for establishing the National Institute of Zorig Chuusum (Thirteen Arts and Crafts).
CTAS is a formally registered and certified private training institute under the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR), Royal Government of Bhutan.
In the national institutional registration survey, CTAS was awarded Category ‘A’ status, placing it among the top-tier private institutes in the country.
To further our commitment to excellence, we have successfully achieved:
National Course Accreditation: Our Lhadri (Painting) and Patra (Woodcarving) programs are formally accredited at BVQF Level NC-II.
QMS Certification: We are fully compliant with the Quality Management System requirements for training providers (Certificate No: MoLHR/DOS/2021-009).
These certifications ensure our students receive a nationally recognized qualification that meets rigorous quality standards.
CTAS is honored to be recognized by His Royal Highness Prince Namgyal Wangchuck (Paro Penlop) for our contributions to the preservation of Bhutanese culture.
In his commendations, His Royal Highness describes CTAS as an “exemplary initiative” from the private sector that directly supports the Royal Government’s objectives to preserve cultural heritage. His Highness highlights that the school not only meets the increasing demand for highly skilled artisans but also provides vital professional training to youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Today, our graduates are successfully carrying out essential restoration and preservation tasks on historical lhakangs, monasteries, and dzongs across the Kingdom—realizing His Royal Highness’s vision of the school as a premium institute for cultural sustainability.
Dasho Choki Dorji received Certificate of Appreciation from Ministry of Labour and Human Resources for his tireless contributions in the vocational education during the first ever Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Symposium held on 23rd June 2017.
CTAS received the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for the year 2015, 2018 and 2019.
In 2008, CTAS received a recommendation letter from the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which states and confirms the authenticity of the school and its positive contributions towards preserving the culture and traditions of Bhutan.
CTAS was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Rietberg Museum for their participation during the Dragon Gift Exhibition from September 20 to October 8 2010. The three students of CTAS showcased their skills of traditional embroidery, painting and wood carving though live demonstration and received many words of praise for their skill and the school.
CTAS received a Certificate of Appreciation by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage for participating in the 42nd Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.
The school started with 5 students in 1999 and over the last twenty years, as depicted below in the chart, the number of students (boys and girls) enrolled in the school has risen steadily. It was only in 2009 that girls were able to enroll with support of Mr. Koenraad Foulon and his daughter Leila. This has enabled the provision of equal opportunities for girls and transformed their lives positively.
