BHUBANESWAR: The state department of Handloom, Textiles and Handicraft has proposed to throw open the workshop area of Odisha Crafts Museum for public viewing. This would ensure that they gain a first-hand experience of craft making.
The proposed move would let the visitors of Kalabhoomi engage more with art and craft of the state. The department in their latest guidelines for the workshop area of Odisha Crafts Museum (Kalabhoomi), has batted for engaging visitors in practicing “crafts for experience”. The latest norms for Kalabhoomi workshop say, “The workshops will provide opportunities to the interested visitors to practice ‘crafts for experience’. Here visitors can feel the originality, aesthetic value of the typical Odia handicrafts and handlooms through live demonstration of the crafts making.”
The department meanwhile in the latest guidelines has strictly banned the use of any products other than the ones related to handicraft and handloom on the museum premises to refrain promoting non-handicraft products. It has meanwhile opened up the area for the awardees, master craft persons, weavers, designers and, micro entrepreneurs from handicraft and handloom sector to display and demonstrate the craft activities in the area to showcase their craftsmanship to the visitors.
The department has mulled that all recognized crafts and weaving activities including their modern and contemporary development would be demonstrated as well as sold in the workshop. The department has planned to allot the workshop area to each interested artistes and craftsman for a 15 day-period. This would ensure ample chances for the artistes from different areas to demonstrate their work in public.
The department has also planned to give financial support as per the prevalent scheme of the state government to eligible participants. The travel expenses and wage compensations are also likely paid for the artistes and craftsmen who travel from other areas to the state capital to demonstrate the diverse art forms in which they have expertise. This would give artistes from all part of the state a shot in the arm.
“We are genuinely interested to make something of our own in these live demonstrations. This is a welcome move if interested visitors can gain a first-hand experience on making craft with the assistance of experts. This will also reveal the challenges involved in the process,” said 28-year-old Priyanka Swain, an art enthusiast and student from the city.
Manish Kumar, OP
