Unorganised craftspersons looking to showcase their work will soon have an exclusive space at Sargaalaya Arts and Crafts Village at Iringal in Kozhikode district. The project, ‘Arty Hands’, will help artisans, sculptors and artists from various parts of the country make use of facilities at the spot for a day to sell their work.
The initiative mainly aims at connecting craftspersons in the State and giving them an opportunity to widen their network. All facilities, including field-level training support, currently provided to artisans at the spot, will be given free of cost to Arty Hands beneficiaries.
Under the scheme, celebrity artists will also be given a space to exhibit their works. Sargaalaya authorities say the partnership with celebrities will help attract more tourists to the village.
“We came up with the new project after the success of ‘Sarga Parambara’, a scheme that was exclusively designed for training and encouraging traditional artisans in the unorganised sector,” says Sargaalaya general manager T.K. Rajesh. Arty Hands intends to support both professionals and amateurs in the field who are struggling to find a better audience and trading opportunities, he adds.
Those interested in the project may register for free on the official portal, www.sargaalaya.in . The space at the crafts village will be available even on public holidays. The village also promises better national and international exposure for candidates who leave a mark during the one-day shows.
Handicrafts Academy
Project coordinators say with the completion of the multi-storey Sargaalaya Handicrafts Academy, there will be more facilities to accommodate artisans from various parts of India. The building is expected to be completed within five months and the annual international crafts fair will begin on December 20. A modern and spacious art gallery to showcase art works is part of the ambitious project in the second phase.
Sargaalaya management says the State government’s proposed North Kerala Tourism Circuit Project will take the village to a higher level as around ₹32 crore will be invested exclusively for its growth and connected tourism destinations in the area.
