In order to give exposure to craft communities post the pandemic, Craft Village for the third chapter of the India Craft Week (ICW) has invited RARE India, a community of some of the best conscious luxury hotels and experiences in India and the subcontinent, as a valuable partner.
ICW 2021 will be held in partnership with the British Council India from 18th to 21st February at the British Council Building and Bikaner House in New Delhi. RARE India’s aim under this partnership is to bring into limelight the craft and textile heritage and traditions of various states of India through curated tours to the small towns and villages where these crafts and textiles are handmade.
ICW is the brainchild of Nari Shakti Puraskar awardee Iti Tyagi, a woman entrepreneur who has dedicated her life for upliftment of the craft sector through revival and image building, and constantly creating and engaging with communities for sustainable employment and dignity of life and recognition of their skill.
Hailed as India’s official and the second largest craft week in the world after its international counterpart – the London Craft Week, the showcase this year brings a community of over 100 crafts persons, artisans, craft brands, museums, organizations and figureheads while embracing multiple artistic genres.
“This year is very special as artisans and crafts person have gone through a massive phase of distress. It is heartening to see that after one year of pandemic these cultural ambassadors of crafts would be joining us from all over India. This is the largest delegation of Craft Week so far and these artisans will be for the first time gathering anywhere to showcase the rich and grandeur of India’s vast tradition and culture. The initiative is to help revive their home & hopes and connect with communities that appreciate and patronize them. I am hopeful that people would not only extend their hands, but hearts too. ICW 2021 brings the core theme as ‘Crafting Tomorrow’ by bringing everyone together who can help the craft sector revive and bounce back” says Iti Tyagi, Founder of India Craft Week, as she shares her vision for India Craft Week 2021.
In addition to the exhibits, cross-talks, workshops, installations and craft cinema, visitors attending ICW 2021 will also get an opportunity to get an in-depth understanding of the craft tours curated by RARE India to various destinations in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kutch, Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking about the craft heritage of India and the need for its conservation and preservation, RARE India’s Founder Ms Shoba Mohan said, “When we speak of the cultural heritage that India possesses, more often than not, we find ourselves picturing massive forts that have been an inherent part of our visual understanding of heritage for a long time. But as much as these tangible sources of cultural heritage narrate tales of the land and its people, several layers of culture remain hidden in the intangible aspects of life that eventually complete the picture of culture in totality. Art, craft, textile, food, festivals and folklore speak volumes about the ways of life practiced by people of a particular region and over the years, all the hotels in the RARE India Community have contributed significantly towards the conservation and promotion of these intangible elements of our culture.”
At ICW 2021, RARE India will be highlighting and promoting curated craft and textile tours drawn by experts to some of the destinations in which it has partner hotels, including West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kutch, Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh. These crafts include Phad, Pichwai, Akola Print, Mughal Miniature and Minakari of Rajasthan; Kantha, Patua, Kalighat, Chhau Mask and Pattachitra of West Bengal; Maheshwari, Gond Art, Dhokra, Bagh and Chanderi of Central India; and Phulkari, Wood Inlay, Chamba Rumal, Patiala Work and Kangra Painting of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. All the RARE India Community hotels in these regions aim at the preservation of the art, craft and textile of the region by creating experiences where the travelers can see the skill of handmade crafts and gain first-hand experience of the rich and engaging art of the community.
Regarding the partnership with the Craft Village for ICW 2021, Shoba Mohan said, “It is no surprise that our country is a gold mine of textile and craft traditions. What Iti and Somesh Tyagi have tried to achieve through India Craft Week is exemplary and the synergy is evident between showcasing the crafts and creating tours to see them in their workshops and homes. While every citizen of India will understand and recognise this wealth of craft traditions, ICW will ensure its continuity. We have been associated with ICW since its inception in 2018 and will continue to support Craft Village.”
Through its curated experiences, ICW envisions to formulate a harmonious ecosystem of craft and the people who make it, connecting them with national and global opportunities.
Dates: 18-21 February 2021
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm
Venues: British Council and Bikaner House in New Delhi
