Antaran, an initiative of the Mumbai-based Tata Trusts and University of Arts London (UAL), aims to rejuvenate the handloom sector in East and North East India.
The initiative will enable a teaching and learning environment to ensure continuous value-addition in the lives of artisans and weavers, as students of UAL will visit the clusters in an exchange program and engage with the artisans directly.
Tata Trusts and UAL plan to exchange documentation and research material to come up with collaborative projects. The partnership will help reach the grass-root level weavers and create a growth-inclusive ecosystem.
Sharda Gautam, head of crafts, Tata Trusts, said,“UAL and Tata Trusts partnership is going to create a unique opportunity for the crafts sector and the artisans involved. Bypassing the barriers of education, language, culture and geography, design students from London would co-create bespoke textile products with the artisan entrepreneurs from Odisha, Assam and Nagaland.”
Juliette Sargeant, director of international relations, UAL, said, “This partnership will offer UAL students a unique opportunity to work alongside, learn from and collaborate with local weaving communities. An example of how art, design and creativity can forge social change and social justice, this initiative will produce mutual benefits and sustained impact.”
University of the Arts London is made up of six Colleges namely Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. The university offers courses in art, design, fashion communication and performing arts, and is known for its research into creativity as a force for social and economic change.
The objective of Antaran is to rejuvenate the ailing handloom clusters through an end-to-end programme which would nurture artisans as designers and entrepreneurs. Through this initiative, Tata Trusts have started intensive work in Odisha, Assam and Nagaland. The programme will benefit 3,000 artisans directly involved in pre-loom, on-loom and post loom processes, impacting the livelihood of weavers in six weaving clusters in these States. The programme will also expand to clusters in Andhra Pradesh in the next eight months, Tata Trusts executives said.
The crafts sector employs over seven million families in India and this partnership will provide a platform to the artisans and the sector to enhance and showcase their expertise.
Antaran not only aims to connect artisans with the market but also other partners and stakeholders who can provide expert skills and knowledge to the existing programme, executives added.
Tata Trusts owns 66% stake in Tata Sons which is the holding company of the over $110 billion in revenue Tata Group
