Bhubaneswar (Odiha Tazanews) :- The Crafts Council of Odisha, an association of craft lovers of the state affiliated to the Crafts Council of India and the World Crafts Council, launched its unique programme “Craftsperson of the Week” at Ekamra Haat in Bhubaneswar today. The programme was inaugurated by Mrs. Guha Poonam Tapas Kuumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Handloom, Textiles & Handicrafts Government of Odisha, in the presence of Shri Santosh Kumar Mohapatra, IAS (Retd.), Chairman of the Crafts Council of Odisha, and other distinguished guests.
The initiative aims to showcase one outstanding craftsperson every week from Monday to Sunday. Under the programme, the selected craftsperson will be provided with an air-conditioned showroom at Ekamra Haat for the entire week to display and sell his or her products. The Council will also facilitate publicity and interaction with buyers, designers and craft lovers.
The programme for the first month is being sponsored by SNM Group of Companies. Its Chairman, Mr. Pradipta Mohanty, along with Mrs. Diptee Mohanty, was present on the occasion. The first craftsperson to participate in the programme is Sj. Kalpataru Moharana, who is a National Merit & Shilpi Guru Award winner craftsman from Lalitgiri of Cuttack district adept in the craft of stone carving.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the Council explained that the objective of the World Crafts Council, which is also adopted by the state council, is to preserve and promote the traditional crafts of Odisha. The Chief Guest lauded the initiative and urged craft lovers and the public to visit the exhibition in large numbers and encourage the craftspersons.
A note on Crafts Council of Odisha
The Crafts Council of Odisha is a non-government association of craft lovers dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional crafts of the state. The Council is affiliated to the Crafts Council of India, which in turn is affiliated to the World Crafts Council. The main objective of the Council is to preserve, promote and support the traditional crafts and craft communities of Odisha.
In the past, the Crafts Council of Odisha has organised the Master Crafters Exhibition, a showcase highlighting excellence in craftsmanship and providing master artisans a platform to present their finest works. The Craftsman of the Week is a unique initiative of the Crafts Council of Odisha. Under this programme, a selected craftsman will be provided an air-conditioned showroom for one week to display and sell his or her products.
The Council will also arrange publicity through social media and facilitate interaction with designers, buyers and exporters to help artisans access wider markets. It is also proposed to organise interaction with school children to promote awareness about handicrafts among the younger generation.
The Council further proposes to undertake craft-specific development programmes covering various aspects of production and marketing such as raw material, design and product development, branding and publicity. The Crafts Council of Odisha will collaborate with the government and other organisations to carry forward its objectives.
