Heritage Art Market to Raise Funds for Bhutan’s Museums

Heritage & Hues brings art, handicrafts, food and family activities to Paro’s National Museum from 5 to 7 November in support of Bhutan’s museums.

Organised by MICE Bhutan, Heritage & Hues will bring artists, artisans, food producers and visitors together at the historic Taa Dzong, home of the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro, from 5 to 7 November 2026.

The three-day heritage art market and fundraiser will feature local art, handicrafts and agricultural produce, alongside sand mandala art, river stone painting, food and guided horse walks.

All proceeds will support the Museums of Bhutan, a national initiative working to preserve important collections, improve museum facilities and create more active public spaces around the country’s cultural institutions.

Event Details at a Glance

Art, Handicrafts and Local Produce

The market will provide a space for artists and artisans to present and sell their work directly to visitors.

Local handicrafts and produce will also be available, connecting the event with the creative and agricultural communities of Paro and other parts of Bhutan.

The programme includes sand mandala art and river stone painting. A mandala is a geometric representation used in Buddhist practice to express ideas including balance, interconnection and the nature of existence. Sand mandalas are created carefully from coloured particles and may later be dismantled as a reflection on impermanence.

River stone painting offers a more informal participatory activity, using stones as surfaces for artistic expression.

Local food and refreshments will be available throughout the event. Guided horse walks will give visitors another way to experience the museum grounds and their surroundings.

Lucky Draw Supports the Fundraiser

Each paid entry ticket includes one lucky draw chance.

The prizes are:

1. A one-night stay at Amba Paro

2. A one-night stay at Tshomen

3. A painting class for two at Palette Space Art Studio

Additional raffle tickets will be available for Nu 100 (approx. USD 1.05).

The raffle forms part of the fundraising programme, with proceeds supporting the Museums of Bhutan.

A Museum Inside a Seventeenth-Century Watchtower

Taa Dzong stands above Rinpung Dzong and the Paro Valley. It was constructed in 1649 as a watchtower protecting the fortress below.

In 1968, the circular structure was converted into the National Museum under Bhutan’s third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Its collections now cover Bhutanese art, religious objects, textiles, arms, natural history and objects associated with the country’s monarchy and regional communities.

The building was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2011. After an extensive restoration supported by the Government of India, it reopened to visitors in June 2020.

The museum continues to expand its role beyond displaying historical objects. Recent programmes have included professional exchanges, educational visits and a student-led heritage exhibition developed through its first Youth Council.

Heritage & Hues follows the same broader approach by using the museum as a place for public participation, artistic exchange and community activity.

The Museums of Bhutan Initiative

The Museums of Bhutan brings together three culturally important sites:

• The National Museum of Bhutan at Taa Dzong in Paro

• The Royal Heritage Museum at Taa Dzong in Trongsa

• The Taa Dzong archaeological site in Trashigang, eastern Bhutan

The initiative is managed by the Museum Division under the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development in Bhutan’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

Paro and Trongsa’s museum buildings were originally watchtowers. Their conversion into museums reflects a wider change in purpose, from defending important fortresses to protecting and interpreting Bhutan’s cultural heritage.

The Trashigang site is being developed as an archaeological and educational destination intended to broaden public understanding of eastern Bhutan’s history.

Building Museums as Community Spaces

In 2024, the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development launched the Museums of Bhutan Building Fund.

The global campaign aims to raise Nu 1.14 billion (approx. USD 12 million) to improve the three museum sites and develop outdoor venues for cultural programmes, educational activities, conferences and community gatherings.

The plans include an outdoor amphitheatre and meditation spaces in Paro, improvements to the Royal Heritage Museum in Trongsa and the development of the archaeological site in Trashigang.

Druk Asia was appointed as the Building Fund’s official marketing representative, supporting international outreach and fundraising.

The wider objective is to develop museums as active community institutions rather than places used only to store and display collections. Educational programmes, artist collaborations and public events are intended to make heritage more accessible while generating resources for conservation.

A Fundraiser With a Public Purpose

Heritage & Hues gives residents and visitors an opportunity to support this work through a public event.

The combination of art, handicrafts, food and participatory activities also connects cultural preservation with the people who continue to practise and reinterpret Bhutanese traditions.

For international visitors, the market offers an introduction to Bhutanese heritage outside the formal gallery setting. For local artists, artisans and producers, it provides a platform to engage directly with a wider audience.

The event will run from 9:30am to 5:30pm on all three days.

Find out more about the Museums of Bhutan fundraising initiative or click here to support the Museums of Bhutan.