JOURNAL ARCHIVE
Smith, Clare Brett,
Clare Brett Smith Founder and Former President of Aid to Artisans (ATA), a USA-based international nonprofit. Under her leadership from 1986 onwards ATA and its partners delivered critical product development, training and marketing services to 65,000 artisans in 41 countries and an additional 60,000 artisans received small grants. Seventy-two percent of these artisans were women. During this period, ATA’s sales efforts leveraged nearly $230 million in retail commerce, a testament to her ability to help reach artisans who were completely unfamiliar with export. She also helped secure ATA’s first major project in Honduras from 1984-1986, which eventually generated $15 million in U.S. sales. Prior to the project, no artisan businesses existed in the country. Ms Smith was a member of the First Delegation of Artists and Craftsmen to the People’s Republic of China in 1977, and represented Haiti at the World Crafts Council meeting in Kyoto in 1978. Clare has received numerous awards, including a 2005 Decorative Accessories Industry Achievement Award. She has been asked to present her work at worldwide leadership conferences including the Leadership Conference on Conservancy & Development in the Yunnan Province, China in 1999 and the Maker and Meaning: Craft and Society international seminar in Madras, India. In 2002, she was the juror for UNESCO Crafts Prize for Latin American and Caribbean artisans at the International Craft & Design Fair in Mexico City. In 2006, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Clark University. She is also a renowned photographer and teacher of photography. Her photos hang from museum walls and studio center exhibits across the country.
Clare Brett Smith Founder and Former President of Aid to Artisans (ATA), a USA-based international nonprofit. Under her leadership from 1986 onwards ATA and its partners delivered critical product development, training and marketing services to 65,000 artisans in 41 countries and an additional 60,000 artisans received small grants. Seventy-two percent of these artisans were women. During this period, ATA’s sales efforts leveraged nearly $230 million in retail commerce, a testament to her ability to help reach artisans who were completely unfamiliar with export. She also helped secure ATA’s first major project in Honduras from 1984-1986, which eventually generated $15 million in U.S. sales. Prior to the project, no artisan businesses existed in the country. Ms Smith was a member of the First Delegation of Artists and Craftsmen to the People’s Republic of China in 1977, and represented Haiti at the World Crafts Council meeting in Kyoto in 1978. Clare has received numerous awards, including a 2005 Decorative Accessories Industry Achievement Award. She has been asked to present her work at worldwide leadership conferences including the Leadership Conference on Conservancy & Development in the Yunnan Province, China in 1999 and the Maker and Meaning: Craft and Society international seminar in Madras, India. In 2002, she was the juror for UNESCO Crafts Prize for Latin American and Caribbean artisans at the International Craft & Design Fair in Mexico City. In 2006, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Clark University. She is also a renowned photographer and teacher of photography. Her photos hang from museum walls and studio center exhibits across the country.
Smith, Nima-Poovaya,
Nima-Poovaya Smith is Director of Alchemy, a cultural enterprise company whose central concern is the development of ideas into creative product with a particular interest in the exploration of the confluences of different cultures and disciplines. She is Director of Connect: People, Place and Imagination - Cartwright Hall Art Gallery Collections. Nima is also Project Director of Pillars of Light, a year-long, region-wide programme of events exploring different aspects of Muslim cultures and heritage. Nima was Head of Special Projects at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, Bradford until April 2004. Previously, as Director of Arts at Yorkshire Arts (now Arts Council, Yorkshire) she project directed the extremely successful Year of the Artist campaign for Yorkshire and the Humber region in 2000 - 01. As Senior Keeper, International Arts at Bradford Art Galleries and Museums from 1986 -1997 she curated a number of nationally acclaimed historical and contemporary exhibitions relating to themes as varied as Women Artists of Pakistan and 101 Saris from India. She also set up the Transcultural Gallery, which houses the permanent international collections of Cartwright Hall. She has written and lectured extensively on the arts.
Nima-Poovaya Smith is Director of Alchemy, a cultural enterprise company whose central concern is the development of ideas into creative product with a particular interest in the exploration of the confluences of different cultures and disciplines. She is Director of Connect: People, Place and Imagination - Cartwright Hall Art Gallery Collections. Nima is also Project Director of Pillars of Light, a year-long, region-wide programme of events exploring different aspects of Muslim cultures and heritage. Nima was Head of Special Projects at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, Bradford until April 2004. Previously, as Director of Arts at Yorkshire Arts (now Arts Council, Yorkshire) she project directed the extremely successful Year of the Artist campaign for Yorkshire and the Humber region in 2000 - 01. As Senior Keeper, International Arts at Bradford Art Galleries and Museums from 1986 -1997 she curated a number of nationally acclaimed historical and contemporary exhibitions relating to themes as varied as Women Artists of Pakistan and 101 Saris from India. She also set up the Transcultural Gallery, which houses the permanent international collections of Cartwright Hall. She has written and lectured extensively on the arts.
Sobel, Anna,
Sobel, Anna is originally from New York City. She received her BA in English from Wesleyan University where she first became involved in puppetry after witnessing an inspiring performance by Vermont's activist troupe Bread and Puppet Theatre. From 2001-2003 she worked for an educational children's theatre based in Washington, D.C. called Blue Sky Puppet Theatre. She came to India in September 2003 on a nine-month Fulbright grant to study Indian puppetry and its use as a tool for effecting social change.
Sobel, Anna is originally from New York City. She received her BA in English from Wesleyan University where she first became involved in puppetry after witnessing an inspiring performance by Vermont's activist troupe Bread and Puppet Theatre. From 2001-2003 she worked for an educational children's theatre based in Washington, D.C. called Blue Sky Puppet Theatre. She came to India in September 2003 on a nine-month Fulbright grant to study Indian puppetry and its use as a tool for effecting social change.
Sood, Anubha,
Anubha Sood, a graduate in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics (2002) in currently working as a Manager-Market Access Initiatives with AIACA-All India Artisans and Crafts Workers Association. In the past she has worked with Action Aid, OXFAM, Dastkar and URMUL Trust. She specializes in various aspects of craft related income generation programme-identification of crafts, craft communities, production planning, quality control, linking with the appropriate markets and self sustenance of the programme. She has conducted extensive training programs with women and artisans in various aspects of income generation. She has also helped set up a crafts shop in Lucknow called SANATKADA.
Anubha Sood, a graduate in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics (2002) in currently working as a Manager-Market Access Initiatives with AIACA-All India Artisans and Crafts Workers Association. In the past she has worked with Action Aid, OXFAM, Dastkar and URMUL Trust. She specializes in various aspects of craft related income generation programme-identification of crafts, craft communities, production planning, quality control, linking with the appropriate markets and self sustenance of the programme. She has conducted extensive training programs with women and artisans in various aspects of income generation. She has also helped set up a crafts shop in Lucknow called SANATKADA.
Southwell, Dr. Mirjam,
Dr. Mirjam Southwell works and writes on design education in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Mirjam Southwell works and writes on design education in the United Kingdom.
Srivastava, Jashoda Priya,
Jashoda Priya Srivastava is a student of the 12th Grade at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, New Delhi. As Secretary of the ‘Display & Design’ portfolio in the school’s student govt. she has tried to keep alive a healthy interest in traditional Indian Arts & Crafts within the student community. Her creative side exults in the organisation of the Vidyalaya’s much awaited “Saanjhi” festival each year. “Saanjhi” is a word that loosely translates to “Creative Collective”. In this festival, weavers from the NorthEast of India, Street performers from Rajasthan and other traditional artisans from all over the country are invited to transform the school campus with the colours, crafts and sounds of creative ethnicity. She has always delighted in all that is artistic, and in this article she has attempted to document the way native Indian arts & crafts are stealing their way into the hearts of railway passengers in the nation’s lifeline – the Indian Railways.
Jashoda Priya Srivastava is a student of the 12th Grade at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, New Delhi. As Secretary of the ‘Display & Design’ portfolio in the school’s student govt. she has tried to keep alive a healthy interest in traditional Indian Arts & Crafts within the student community. Her creative side exults in the organisation of the Vidyalaya’s much awaited “Saanjhi” festival each year. “Saanjhi” is a word that loosely translates to “Creative Collective”. In this festival, weavers from the NorthEast of India, Street performers from Rajasthan and other traditional artisans from all over the country are invited to transform the school campus with the colours, crafts and sounds of creative ethnicity. She has always delighted in all that is artistic, and in this article she has attempted to document the way native Indian arts & crafts are stealing their way into the hearts of railway passengers in the nation’s lifeline – the Indian Railways.
Srivastava, Vinita,
An officer with the Indian Railways, Vinita Srivastava is presently the Executive Director, Railway Heritage heading the Heritage Directorate of the Railway Board in Rail Bhavan, New Delhi. Ms Srivastava qualified as a Mechanical Engineer (IMechE) in 1996, and studied for an Executive Masters in Management from IIM Ahmedabad in 2011. More recently, in 2017 she became a Chevening Science and Innovation Fellow from St Cross College, Oxford University. Her work experience spans two decades in rail transportation and her previous posting was in the Ministry of Culture where she developed her knowledge of cultural studies, museology and conservation architecture. She took up her present post in April 2019 after three years administrating the National Mission on Cultural Mapping and the IGNCA. In 2018 she was instrumental in developing a bilateral MoU for cultural and conservation information for the
UNESCO WHS temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Her remit includes the UNESCO protected Railway Industrial Heritage sites like the CSMT building and the Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Shimla & the Nilgiris.
Sturm, Robert,
Robert has been a craftsman, collector and curator of traditional art and craft for almost 50 years. As a child, he learned to knit and crochet from family members and then learned to spin, weave and work with natural dyes when he spent time at the Rochester Folk Art Guild in New York State. Through decades of world travel, Robert spent time with artists and craftspeople in many countries, including, the US, Canada, Bulgaria, Guatemala, India and Nepal and collected the work of traditional artists and craftspeople. Since 2015, Robert has had a home in Oaxaca, Mexico where he has and worked with local artists, museums and organizations to organize education for traditional makers, promote decolonization of the art market and curate exhibits of work by traditional artists who have developed individual and innovative styles. His current work focuses on the development of resources for traditional artists from Oaxaca.
Robert has been a craftsman, collector and curator of traditional art and craft for almost 50 years. As a child, he learned to knit and crochet from family members and then learned to spin, weave and work with natural dyes when he spent time at the Rochester Folk Art Guild in New York State. Through decades of world travel, Robert spent time with artists and craftspeople in many countries, including, the US, Canada, Bulgaria, Guatemala, India and Nepal and collected the work of traditional artists and craftspeople. Since 2015, Robert has had a home in Oaxaca, Mexico where he has and worked with local artists, museums and organizations to organize education for traditional makers, promote decolonization of the art market and curate exhibits of work by traditional artists who have developed individual and innovative styles. His current work focuses on the development of resources for traditional artists from Oaxaca.
Sunny and Meeta,
Sunny and Meeta are a couple working towards providing rural communities with the means of a sustained livelihood. Sunny has worked with NGO's and projects involved in afforestation, drought relief, craft development and community participation in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He worked for a year in Haryana coordinating a rural centre for organic farming, informal learning, raising women awareness while editing and writing booklets and magazines which tried to evolve practical programmes stemming from ecological indigenous visions. Before striking out with her partner Sunny, Meeta worked with Dastkar for 4 years organising crafts groups and establishing Crafts Bazaars in different cities. For the past 12 years Sunny and Meeta have been developing ranges of natural dyes and block prints on tussar, cotton, silk, jute with an artisan family in Rajasthan. Simultaneously they have been working with artisan families making artificial jewelry out of threads and with lacquer workers. They consult for craft agencies and groups and develop craft merchandising avenues.
Sunny and Meeta are a couple working towards providing rural communities with the means of a sustained livelihood. Sunny has worked with NGO's and projects involved in afforestation, drought relief, craft development and community participation in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He worked for a year in Haryana coordinating a rural centre for organic farming, informal learning, raising women awareness while editing and writing booklets and magazines which tried to evolve practical programmes stemming from ecological indigenous visions. Before striking out with her partner Sunny, Meeta worked with Dastkar for 4 years organising crafts groups and establishing Crafts Bazaars in different cities. For the past 12 years Sunny and Meeta have been developing ranges of natural dyes and block prints on tussar, cotton, silk, jute with an artisan family in Rajasthan. Simultaneously they have been working with artisan families making artificial jewelry out of threads and with lacquer workers. They consult for craft agencies and groups and develop craft merchandising avenues.
Szanton, David,
David Szanton is President, Ethnic Arts Foundation that has been working with the Mithila painters of Bihar since 1977, and has been running the free Mithila Art Institute in Madhubani since 2003.
The AIACA,
All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association, (AIACA) set up as a membership-based apex body for the handloom and handicraft sector seeks to represent a range of organizations to engage in policy advocacy activities. In addition AIACA is also implementing a certification program for Indian Handicrafts under the Craftmark Initiative.
All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association, (AIACA) set up as a membership-based apex body for the handloom and handicraft sector seeks to represent a range of organizations to engage in policy advocacy activities. In addition AIACA is also implementing a certification program for Indian Handicrafts under the Craftmark Initiative.
The ANT,
The ANT a registered charitable trust set up with a mandate to work towards development in the North Eastern region of India. Based in the refinery town of Bongaigaon in lower Assam, its work is concentrated in direct intervention with village communities, a resource organisation involved in capacity building and training of other development organizations and socially committed youth.
The ANT a registered charitable trust set up with a mandate to work towards development in the North Eastern region of India. Based in the refinery town of Bongaigaon in lower Assam, its work is concentrated in direct intervention with village communities, a resource organisation involved in capacity building and training of other development organizations and socially committed youth.
Tiwari, Sachin Kumar,
Tiwari, Sachin Kumar is a designer educated from the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design, Jaipur. His area of specialization is three dimensional design, i.e., dealing with hard goods. In the past he has done assignments in various craft clusters around India. He is presently working in Jaipur.
Tiwari, Sachin Kumar is a designer educated from the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design, Jaipur. His area of specialization is three dimensional design, i.e., dealing with hard goods. In the past he has done assignments in various craft clusters around India. He is presently working in Jaipur.
Turaga, Janaki,
Janaki Turaga is a sociologist whose interests are environment, development, textiles and crafts. With a Phd from Jawarlal Nehru University, New Delhi in Environment and Development she subsequently worked in the academia and development sectors in the fields of environment, development, livelihoods, micro-finance, biodiversity conservation, protected area management etc. Her current interests are textiles and crafts, with the focus on the issues that confront various textile and crafts traditions.
Janaki Turaga is a sociologist whose interests are environment, development, textiles and crafts. With a Phd from Jawarlal Nehru University, New Delhi in Environment and Development she subsequently worked in the academia and development sectors in the fields of environment, development, livelihoods, micro-finance, biodiversity conservation, protected area management etc. Her current interests are textiles and crafts, with the focus on the issues that confront various textile and crafts traditions.
Tyabji, Laila,
Laila Tyabji is a craft designer, writer, and Chairperson of DASTKAR, the craft NGO she helped found. Laila has been working with grassroots artisans all over India for over four decades. Many of her most rewarding projects involve creating new livelihood avenues through craft for pastoral & marginalised rural communities - bonded labour in Bihar, displaced villages in Ranthambhore, tribals in Orissa and Karnataka, victims of insurgency in Kashmir and, most recently, craftspeople decimated by the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns... Laila studied art in Baroda & Japan, & has worked as a freelance designer in textiles, graphics, interiors , and the theatre. She writes regularly on craft, design, development and social issues. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Padma Shri in 2012 for her work in the craft sector, and was the first Asian to receive the AID TO ARTISANS Preservation of Craft Award in Néw York in 2003.“
Laila Tyabji is a craft designer, writer, and Chairperson of DASTKAR, the craft NGO she helped found. Laila has been working with grassroots artisans all over India for over four decades. Many of her most rewarding projects involve creating new livelihood avenues through craft for pastoral & marginalised rural communities - bonded labour in Bihar, displaced villages in Ranthambhore, tribals in Orissa and Karnataka, victims of insurgency in Kashmir and, most recently, craftspeople decimated by the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns... Laila studied art in Baroda & Japan, & has worked as a freelance designer in textiles, graphics, interiors , and the theatre. She writes regularly on craft, design, development and social issues. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Padma Shri in 2012 for her work in the craft sector, and was the first Asian to receive the AID TO ARTISANS Preservation of Craft Award in Néw York in 2003.“
Tyagi, Aashish Singh,
Aashish is a Filmmaker, Artist & Designer, having worked in Bollywood for 20yrs, some of the films he has worked on are ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ , ‘ Krishh 3 ‘ and ‘100 years of Bollywood’ for Cannes Film Festival in France. He partnered with Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur on various projects and worked closely with Rajeev Sethi on the T2, Mumbai International Airport Art project (biggest space for public art in South Asia). He later joined his core team. He was the Creative head for the World Bank Project with the Asian Heritage Foundation to main stream traditional art & craft and Handmade in India and Nepal. He is now back to his hometown Hapur to create sustainable solutions for livelihoods with communities around his ancestorial farms. He thinks the real stories are in Indian Villages. Hapur Organic Farm is the 1st Certified Organic Farm in Hapur District of Uttar Pradesh. Owned by Aashish Singh Tyagi and his family for generations
Aashish is a Filmmaker, Artist & Designer, having worked in Bollywood for 20yrs, some of the films he has worked on are ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ , ‘ Krishh 3 ‘ and ‘100 years of Bollywood’ for Cannes Film Festival in France. He partnered with Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur on various projects and worked closely with Rajeev Sethi on the T2, Mumbai International Airport Art project (biggest space for public art in South Asia). He later joined his core team. He was the Creative head for the World Bank Project with the Asian Heritage Foundation to main stream traditional art & craft and Handmade in India and Nepal. He is now back to his hometown Hapur to create sustainable solutions for livelihoods with communities around his ancestorial farms. He thinks the real stories are in Indian Villages. Hapur Organic Farm is the 1st Certified Organic Farm in Hapur District of Uttar Pradesh. Owned by Aashish Singh Tyagi and his family for generations
Uzramma,
Uzramma, a practicing goldsmith, has been instrumental in promoting Andhra crafts, particularly Kondapally painted wooden figures, Nirmal painted wood, Etikoppakka lacquered wood and Kalahasti Kalamkari (hand-painted temple cloths). She is one of the founding trustees of the Dastkar Andhra Trust, dedicated to the support of the cotton handloom industry of India, and of the Decentralized Cotton Yarn Trust, which promotes small-scale cotton yarn production for handweaving and is currently involved in a research project to develop small-scale pre-spinning processes.
Uzramma, a practicing goldsmith, has been instrumental in promoting Andhra crafts, particularly Kondapally painted wooden figures, Nirmal painted wood, Etikoppakka lacquered wood and Kalahasti Kalamkari (hand-painted temple cloths). She is one of the founding trustees of the Dastkar Andhra Trust, dedicated to the support of the cotton handloom industry of India, and of the Decentralized Cotton Yarn Trust, which promotes small-scale cotton yarn production for handweaving and is currently involved in a research project to develop small-scale pre-spinning processes.