Bangalore International Centre hosts one of its kind Artisan Collaborative: Tarasha Craft Exhibit

Press Release

• 08-02-2024

Bengaluru; February 8, 2024:  Today marks the commencement of a 4-day unique artisan showcase, the Tarasha Craft Exhibit at Bangalore International Centre (BIC), Bengaluru. This event is an extension of Project Tarasha and Creative Dignity’s collaboration to take artisan entrepreneurs to new levels of market engagement through extensive pre-exhibition training, product curation, and display. The event hosted a Buyer/Seller Meet today as an exclusive preview of the products for architects, interior designers, and other specific buyers. Set to conclude on February 11, 2024, the exhibit is now open to the public for the following days. Several industry stalwarts and experts from the artisan community attended the event.

The 4-days of exhibit will include a showcase of innovations by artisans and designers in a spirit of co-creation. The Showcase area features collaboration pieces between artisans and designers. Each designed piece will have artisans’ stories, the journey of the product, and the design process linked to each of them. They will be available to commission as well as collaborate with the core design ideas. Following the showcase will be exciting performances in the auditorium by noted filmmaker and singer Shabnam Virmani accompanied by Shreeparna Mitra, Sunaad and the Vasu Dixit Collective.

The Craft Exhibit will have 25+ diverse craft producers practicing several crafts - from Aari, Sujani and Tilla embroidery from Kashmir to Lambani from Karnataka, Glass work & Kites from Uttar Pradesh, Copper bell craft, Ajrakh from Gujarat, Sola Peeth craft from West Bengal, Leather Puppetry from Andhra Pradesh, Usta paintings & Pichwai paintings along with Handloom Pattu weaving from Rajasthan. Also, visitors can look forward to eco-friendly handicrafts like banana fibers from the state of Karnataka. 

Speaking about the event, Sridhar N.E, Chief Sustainability Officer, Titan said, “This event is a direct outcome of the months of intense efforts put in by the artisans, designers, and mentors. This is not just an exhibition but a living, breathing entity that encapsulates India’s essence. Whether you're a seasoned buyer seeking authentic experiences or a curious soul eager to explore, our Craft Exhibit promises an unforgettable journey through the heart and soul of India’s diverse art and craft.”

Meera Goradia, Co-Chair, Creative Dignity, said, “This vibrant marketplace is designed to create a deeper intimacy with the handcrafted ecosystem and encourage a conscious, joyful and festive shopping experience. This unique exhibit through its layout, communication and display aims to invite visitors to engage directly with over 25 talented craft practitioners, processes & products from all over India. We hope to open up fresh possibilities within the world of the handcrafted. Another key goal is to bring about a shift in the traditional perception that surrounds India’s handmade practices and their makers and make their products globally relevant.”

The event has many pieces that have been put together by all the stakeholders in the creative ecosystem - from the curators to designers, artisans to performing artists, visual artists, and the list is endless. Each of these stakeholders bring something unique to the table and together present an unforgettable experience for the audience. The showcase aims to unearth new streams of market engagement for the artisans while creating a deeper awareness about richness and diversity of Indian handmade traditions. No commissions or participation fees are levied on the participating artisans. 

About Project Tarasha

One of the key verticals of the CSR strategy for Titan Company Limited is Indian Heritage Arts and Crafts. Under this vertical, Project Tarasha is a flagship social initiative by Titan Company Ltd. to empower rural craft-preneurs to create robust and sustainable craft businesses in modern markets. The project was born during the pandemic when many craft communities lost their livelihoods due to the lack of exhibitions and customers. Project Tarasha helped them create their websites and digital presence, enabling them to reach out to a wider audience and showcase their unique and diverse crafts. Over the pandemic years, Tarasha has trained and supported over 42 craft producers in this endeavor.

In the post-pandemic era, Project Tarasha has partnered with Creative Dignity, a network of craft organisations, to launch the next phase of the project. This phase focuses on the holistic development of craft practitioners, covering aspects such as design mentoring, creative collaborations, market access, product innovation, and online enhancement. The project also provides customised and need-based interventions to craft groups from across India, helping them to grow and flourish. Project Tarasha also organises an annual exhibit that curates and advocates the value and beauty of crafts in our lives.

Creative Dignity

Creative Dignity is an innovative collaborative network that emerged during the pandemic, uniting various stakeholders within the Indian handmade sector. Envisioning ”A world where artisans have the agency to thrive with dignity” we now have connections in 26 states of India and are enabling digital access to markets for artisans, designing capacity-building workshops, and experimenting with new ways of making handmade products global and relevant.

Creative Dignity’s mission is to enable knowledge, tools, and networks for artisans to be equal stakeholders in creating regenerative economies. As a network, CD takes a systematic deep dive into understanding the changes and challenges that the sector faces, building evidence and data while working on nature-based solutions in collaboration with multiple stakeholders. It was recognised as one of the 12 ecosystem builders (multi-stakeholder partnerships) in the list of India's top 50 Covid 19 last-mile responders by the World Economic Forum's Covid Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs. 

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