Featured Organization: Kala Raksha
Location: Kutch, Gujarat, India
Artisans Served: 1,000
Number of Villages: 25
Focus: Art Preservation, Education, Health, Earthquake Rehab
Affiliation: Ashoka, UNESCO, Govt of India
Kala Raksha Trust
Kala Raksha Trust is dedicated to preservation of arts of ethnic communities of Kutch. It nurtures self-sufficiency of artisans through documentation, education and innovation.
The Trust maintains a Museum as a resource to develop contemporary designs with cultural integrity. This locally based Museum embodies the mutual benefits of involving communities in presenting their own cultures, and provides cultural documentation for everyone. Kala Raksha facilitates the transformation of traditional arts. Its women artisans design, price and market their own products. The Trust encourages artisans' creative capacity, and builds their confidence and self esteem. Kala Raksha founded KRV, the first design school for artisans, to genuinely sustain craft.
Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya (Artisan Design School)
Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya (KRV) is a coherent design education program expressly for artisans. It intends a new approach to design education. Working within existing traditions, KRV's curriculum, schedule and instruction are appropriate to artisans of Kutch. Artisans acquire knowledge and skills to use design effectively and innovate successfully for new markets, while at the same time strengthening traditional identity. KRV's effectiveness is in the relevance of the education provided. By approaching education through a vital subject, the institute enables direct access to higher education and ultimately raises the capacity of the participants and the entire craft sector. Project Director Judy Frater was awarded an Ashoka Fellowship in 2003 to begin the program, and the prestigious Sir Misha Black international award for the project in 2009.
|
