Alma Resort encourages travellers to foster passion for art

Alma Resort is ushering talented artists on to its grounds to craft portraits of guests and teach painting classes, as well as introducing an artists-in-residence programme, in a bid to make art 'more accessible' to travellers.

The 30-hectare resort welcomes local artists to Alma Garden every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 am to 10:30 am during the restaurant’s buffet breakfast to create individual and family portraits of guests, who choose between a black and white or full colour portrait to take home as a memento of their holiday. 

The artists then move to the resort’s Art Workshop space to impart tips on how to paint during separate classes for children and adults from 11 am to 1 pm.

Alma’s F&B Event and Promotion Manager Maya Nguyen enlisted Nguyen Hong Van, who opened Nha Trang’s first art gallery called The Rainbow Gallery, her painter husband Bui Van Quang, a member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, and painters Ngo Dang Hiep and Lê Huynh to take part in creating the guests’ portraits and conducting the workshops.

Quang, Hiep and Huynh are renowned for their authentic paintings depicting situations from the daily lives of Vietnamese people through use of the country’s rich and vivid colors. 

“There’s a saying that ‘art is too important not to share’ and we felt compelled to make the thriving art scene here much more accessible to our guests in ways that are meaningful to them,” said Maya. “Our guests have remarked that their portraits are the ultimate souvenir and the budding artists in our classes have been astounded by the work they’ve created; they’re often harnessing creative skills they never realized they had hitherto.”

Alma will launch an artists-in-residence programme to mark the upcoming festive season from December 21, 2020 until January 3, 2021 that will include a showcase of works by 10 local artists in the Alma Lounge. The artists will also interact with guests and create artwork before their eyes at two buffet dinners at Alma Garden on December 23 and 30, and a gala dinner at the Ballroom on December 29 to mark Alma’s one-year anniversary. 

From December 22 to 25 and December 29 to January 1, artists will create individual portraits for guests at Alma Garden from 8 am to 10 am, and family portraits from 10:30 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 4 pm at Alma Food Court and Alma Lounge. Classes for children and adults will be held at the Art Workshop from 2 pm to 4 pm with themes ranging from protecting the environment to happiness for the new year ahead.