In commemoration of its golden jubilee celebrations, the Crafts Council of India (CCI) has lined up a series of programmes to be held over the course of the next nine months. Kicking things off next week is a one-of-its-kind Craft Film Festival, at the Russian Cultural Centre on July 26. The event will showcase short films based on Indian crafts, which have been sourced from the Heritage Film Festival – an initiative of the Ahmedabad-based NGO Aadhar. Actress Suhasini Mani Ratnam has come on board to anchor the festival, which also includes panel discussions and a one-minute film contest called “Moving Art – Films on Craft”.
At a press conference Usha Krishna, Treasurer, CCI, said, “A large percentage of the unorganised sector comprises local artisans and craftsmen involved in vocations that have been passed on from one generation to the next. Sadly, we stand the risk of losing these arts as the craftsmen are abandoning these forms of livelihood to make ends meet.”
In fact, it is the youngsters on whom the NGO has pinned its hopes. Vijaya Rajan, Chairperson of CCI, added, “We have come up with a programme called E2S or Educate to Sustain. It includes support for primary education for the artisan’s children and encouraging them to take up their parent’s craft at the right age.”