A rapidly changing and growing Indian economy with its emphasis on knowledge workers and skilled service-oriented workforce has made the century old skills and the traditional products of these artisans irrelevant. Having no new skills, or the means to acquire new ones, has made them unwanted...

The Enable Artisan Project is based on a vision of development in which artisans are once more connected to all stages of the craft process, part of a broader community that links suppliers, artisans, and buyers. The main aspect of this lies in exposing them to the latest in the craft with respect to technology, market needs and consumer demand.

The two-year program consists of: 

FOUNDATION COURSE This would introduce the participants to new technologies, communication and managerial skills.

EXPOSURE This would mean lots of travel to familiarize the artisans with the urban market scenarios, the new consumer, new delivery mechanisms, new technologies etc.

REFLECTION & ANALYSIS

DESIGN PROCESS A challenging phase of the project; care will be taken to retain the artisans’ authenticity and identity without homogenizing them through ‘teaching’. In this period they would be encouraged to come up with new products.

MARKET SURVEY A series of exhibitions and like events will give the participants exposure to the marketplace and the opportunity to learn which of their products is well received and which isn’t.

SETTING UP PRODUCTION In this phase support will be given to establishing production in their respective villages.

What’s the measure of success?

The outcome of the project - apart from equipping the potters’ children with an ability to pursue pottery would be:

1. To develop at least 600 new products

2. To document the process for future projects. The template could also be used for other crafts and to develop an institution for enabling artisans. The success of the ‘Enabling Artisan’ project would also provide an extensive database of committed supporters of craft.

3. To make the relationship of the customer and the producer one of collaboration more than that of a mere buyer and seller, by making the customer part of the enabling process. The customer develops a bond with the craft and the craftsman.