Kangra Arts Promotion Society (KAPS) is a non- governmental organisation, working for the promotion of arts in Kangra and surrounding areas that were once ruled by the Kangra Dynasty.
The activities of KAPS are directed towards promotion of the Kangra Paintings and preservation of the painting style.
The organisation was set up to serve the interests of the old Kangra school painters, of whom very few are left. These artists work in obscurity and live on meager earnings though associations with temples or sales to tourists of cheap reproductions. A genuine Kangra (like Mughal and Rajasthani) painting is made with natural colors from stones and plants on acid-free paper prepared in a special way. Even the brushes are made in a very unique way from the hair of squirrels and bird feathers. A genuine Miniature painting usually has tremendous amount of detail (such as distinct leaves on trees and individual grass fronds) and can take weeks and even months to complete. Commercial paintings can be done in a matter of hours with synthetic material.
KAPs organises workshops for artists with a view to preservation of the art and encouragement of younger artists interested in learning it. Exhibitions are held regularly by the organisation for display as well as commercial purposes.
One of the important achievements of KAPS is a School that has been started with a view to training young people to continue with this tradition.