The inaugural Summer Weaving Workshop for Students commenced today at the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Centre with the participation of 20 students from Jakar Higher Secondary School. The opening ceremony was graced by the Thromde Thuemi who is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Dzongkhag Tshogde (District Legislative Assembly) as the Chief Guest. The opening was also attended by the Chief District Education Officer, the Principal District Education Officer, the Principal and teachers of Jakar Higher Secondary School, together with our staff.
The venue for this workshop carries deep historical and cultural significance. The Wangduechhoeling Palace has long stood as both the birthplace of the Bhutanese monarchy and a living repository of Bhutan’s rich textile traditions. Historically, the Palace served as one of the country’s premier centres of weaving, where each Queen maintained her own circle of master weavers and commissioned textiles for the Royal Household. Skilled weavers were brought from across Bhutan to produce textiles of the highest quality, fostering the exchange of knowledge, the refinement of weaving techniques, and the development of the sophisticated textile traditions for which Bhutan is renowned today.
The Summer Weaving Workshop has been made possible through the generous funding and support of the Royal Textile Academy (RTA), Thimphu. We extend our sincere gratitude to the RTA for its invaluable support and look forward to a continued and enduring partnership. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the Dorjibee Weaving Centre in Bumthang, whose experienced members will conduct the workshop as trainers and mentors.
More than simply teaching weaving, the workshop provides students with a meaningful and productive way to spend their summer break while equipping them with practical artisanal skills that may contribute future livelihoods and self-employment.