Summary
The grant was awarded under the ‘Crafting Futures: India-UK Collaboration Scheme 2022’
These projects will benefit from monetary and technical support to collaborate with craft communities in India
British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, announced another set of grant winners for its global programme ‘Crafting Futures: India-UK Collaboration Scheme 2022’ on February 3.
Under the programme, the grants are awarded to a partnership of two organisations – one in India and one in the UK – to jointly strengthen the creative and crafts sector in India.
As part of the second round of ‘Crafting Futures: India-UK Collaboration Scheme’, applications were invited for project proposals from India and the UK organisations, out of which three projects have been chosen. These projects will benefit from monetary and technical support to collaborate with craft communities in India.
Jaipur Rugs Foundation from India and University of Arts, London have been jointly shortlisted for the grant. Two more partnerships – Indian Institute of Craft and Design (IICD) in Jaipur and West Dean College of Arts and Conservation in the UK, and University of Liverpool in the UK and INTACH Hooghly Chapter in India – have also been shortlisted for the grant.
Jonathan Kennedy, director Arts India, British Council, said, “India has a vital arts and craft industry, and this is globally recognised. However, our recent research with Fashion Revolution confirms the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly tough and remains challenging for the livelihoods of crafts organisations, women artists and artisans.”
“The abundant innovation and vibrancy in the projects this year will support social, cultural and economic change with the India and UK craft collaborations,” he added.
Crafting Futures is a global programme which aims at achieving a sustainable future for craft by understanding its value in history, culture and the world today. It supports collaboration to strengthen the creative and crafts sector in India through exciting and innovative projects. The projects focus on all-inclusive initiatives to explore solutions for global environmental challenges and generate new propositions for the relationship between craft and technology.
All three winners of the grant aim to have a significant impact on the craft sector while uplifting the artisans across various cities. The collaboration between Jaipur Rugs Foundation and University of Arts, London will help rural women learn new skills in craft to ensure dignified incomes and financial independence irrespective of their formal education.
The partnership between IICD and West Dean College of Arts and Conservation focuses on the Potters of Baswa district in Jaipur through exchange of knowledge between India and UK ceramic practices while focusing on design and technology.
Lastly, the partnership between University of Liverpool and INTACH Hooghly Chapter will work with women artisans working in the silk industry in Kolkata.
The first round of ‘Crafting Futures: India-UK Scheme’ also saw innovative and exciting projects from India and the UK.
Last updated on 03 Feb 2022
