Students from more than 20 countries have registered for these courses. The Education Department also operates schools of thangka painting and traditional woodcarving. Established in 1977 and 1982 respectively, both schools conduct intensive five-year apprenticeship programmes. Almost 50 artists, who continue the traditional Tibetan arts in India and elsewhere, have trained in this school. These courses are taught by renowned master artists.
Thangka painting is one of the most important aspects of traditional Tibetan culture.
It is regarded as a reflection of the life and imagination of the Tibetan mind. The education of a thangka painter goes far beyond mere painting techniques. Iconography, Tibetan philosophy, and art history are all aspects of the training. Traditional Tibetan woodcarving has been given a new lease of life by the master artists of the school. Students construct altars, shrines, three-dimensional mandalas, and other objects for use in temples and monasteries.