Focus of the council is to support sustainable artisanal livelihoods through crafts and craft production .Preservation and promotion of traditional crafts is always given priority. Key activities includes training, workshops,exhibitions, sales,product development, marketing initiatives, seeking industry feedback.
Craft Workshops
CCP regularly conducts Craft workshops for general public and students to generate interest,create awareness, enthusiasm towards crafts, craft making skills to encourage knowledge sharing by master artisans with people.
Craft workshops are regularly conducted at INTACH Puducherry office premises as part of its “A Craft by the Courtyard” workshop series that aims to preserve,promote to key aspects of Pondicherry namely Craft & Heritage.
For children ,learning to do crafts is considered an essential component for their holistic development as it improves concentration, patience and hand eye coordination, motor skill development apart from developing a pride for our culture,native crafts knowledge & interest in craftsmanship.
Handicrafts Awareness Program For Puducherry Youth ( HAPPY )
Many of our traditional, indigenous crafts are today seeing a slow death due to lack of public patronage, non availability of skilled artisans and in general lack of awareness about importance of Handicrafts of our country.Craft education as part of our school curriculum was common in our education system upto few decades back.In these modern technology driven ages of Mobile phones & fast internet there is an evident disconnect between Youth & many things Handmade .To bridge this gap and improve appreciation for Handicrafts among our Youngsters, awareness programs called Handicrafts Awareness Program for Puducherry Youth (HAPPY) has been introduced by CCP .Through this programm CCP has been organising craft demonstration and talks by eminent, award winning artisans like Padmasri.V.K.Munusamy in many city colleges, schools of Puducherry.Enthusiasm shown by our youngsters shows some hope for the future for Craft sector.
Crafts Bazaars / Craft Exhibitions
Craft Exhibitions and Bazaars offers craftspersons immense opportunities to showcase their ware & sell their crafts to the world.Such platforms facilitates interactions between the makers & citizens and primarily offer opportunities to improve their livelihoods through direct sales .Craft Bazaars and craft exhibitions are excellent platforms that encourages networking of artisans from different craft communities ,facilitates interactions with prospective buyers ,seek feedback from different industry stakeholders.
Crafts Council of Puducherry organises Craft Bazaars and thematic craft exhibitions for craft entrepreuers regularly.
” STUDY to SUSTAIN ” – Scholarships
Following the footsteps of CCI scholarships, CCP initiated ” Study to Sustain” scholarships in 2022 for children from artisan communities of Pondicherry.Aim is to encourage children to carry on with craft traditions along with their regular schooling, contributing to their personal growth along with the progress of the community.
The purpose of this scholarship is to create opportunities for children of craftspersons, to build capacities relevant to their family crafts and through education get them ready for emerging markets using skill development and exposure.
Scholarships are provided from class vi – xii to children of needy artisan belonging to chosen craft clusters with girl students given priority.Recipients of this scholarship are encouraged to learn the craft systematically from their respective master craftsmen or coordinator or mentor or artisan parent.Progress is monitored and necessary training, counseling and nurturing provided to the young talent in their chosen craft field. Crafts made by recipient children are displayed at events of the council to encourage the children.
Training / Artisan Skill Development programs
Introducing communities to new crafts and skills needs a sustainable ,systematic approach undoubtedly.Also programs to revive,reinvent,redesign an existing craft or weave with improvisations inputs from experts are organised for craft communities in collaboration with Designers from prestigious nation design institutes, Master trainers,Master craftsmen and Craft experts from different parts of country and abroad to facilitate artisan skill development.
PATHAI – Skill Development program for Artisans
Upskilling is vital for sustainence and development.Crafts Council Puducherry “s PATHAI program facilitates training of Artisans by industry leaders like Fab India,SWADESH and other groups to improve their skills in product development, marketing and sales.