Shilpa National Crafts Festival to boost local craft industry

Friday, 21 June 2013 05:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Cheranka Mendis Sri Lanka’s local crafts industry, which benefits close to 25,000 persons directly and 100,000 indirectly, is a sector that needs immediate attention for improvement. Primarily based in the outskirts of urban Colombo, the crafts practiced by the artisans are those that have been passed on from one generation to another – from fathers to sons and mothers to daughters. With the extensive development and urbanisation of the country, attention on local crafts and handicrafts have diminished over time with those in the industry itself moving towards finding greener pastures in other areas of

work. In a bid to rejuvenate the ailing crafts industry, the National Crafts Council along with the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry has put together ‘Shilpa’ – National Crafts Festival 2013, an upgraded version of the annual ‘Shilpa’ exhibition held at the BMICH. To be launched in August this year at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Hall, Shilpa 2013 will incorporate a range of exhibitions, competitions and a trade fair and expects over 50,000 visitors, both from here and abroad. In an interview with Daily FT, National Crafts Council Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena noted that the festival would look at covering five key objectives – to identify talented craft artisans in rural Sri Lanka, train and guide them to reach international standards, showcase their talents,

invite key global buyers to experience local crafts and to stage a competition to recognise the best in the industry. Categories of crafts that will be represented at the festival includes clay, leaves and glass, dumbara designs, cane and bamboo, metal, jewellery related crafts, masks and puppets, musical instruments (traditional and non-traditional), textiles and textile based products, batiks, lace, lacquer work, wood based crafts, leather crafts, stone based crafts, traditional paintings and sculptures, coconut, kithul, talipot and palmyra related crafts, and other miscellaneous crafts from handmade paper, pulp, saw dust, seashells, etc. “Crafts sector plays a vital role in the economic growth of the country,” Keerthisena said. “This sector is instrumental in absorbing the talents and capabilities of the rural Sri Lanka into the export efforts of the country.” The festival will feature a handicraft exhibition and festival, a gift and new design exhibition, an exhibition titled ‘Visitru,’ another titled ‘Yugayata Nimawum’ – a exhibition conducted by the National Design Centre, a palmyra product exhibition under the Palmyra Development Board of Sri Lanka and a craft trade fair. “The ultimate result we hope to achieve is to uplift the living standards of these artisans,” he said. “We also hope to meet tourism industry requirements for handicrafts and support the export sector of the country.” With over 150 stalls and 2,000 artisans competing in various contests held as fringe events of the main festival, organisers also expect buyers and traders from the likes of Germany

, India, Maldives, Netherlands and USA to visit the trade fair. Howeverm to form successful partnerships with foreign buyers local craftsmen must up their game and be on par with international standards and be updated on the latest trends in the global hospitality and craft sectors. He assured that the demand for special products of proven quality in the international market hold ample scope for the development of the industry ensuring foreign exchange gains. “With the intention of building up a second tier of exporters who are capable of catering to the niche export market while generating more opportunities for rural youth, the festival would help uplift living and social status of these craftsmen. This would in turn place the country in a position better able to cater to the demands of exports and employment.” Keerthisena added that the council was also looking at introducing new designs and ideas during the festival which would help local craftsman produce better competitive products for the market. At the festival, Laksala, recognised as one of the largest handicraft buyers in the country which was recently redeveloped as a handicraft boutique, will purchase unique products from exhibitors, a factor organisers noted as assurance for craftsmen for direct purchases at the four-day event. Sri Lanka’s inherited craftsmanship, cultural diversity and rich natural resources provide the base for a wide range of crafts that satisfy the quality conscious and discerning buyers. “We need a strategic plan to develop the sector,” he acknowledged, adding that the Ministry has introduced a number of initiatives to boost the sector as well. The development of traditional handicraft villages is one of such initiatives. Under this 12 handcraft villages have been developed and are being closely monitored for progress. At the competition held to recognise artisans of exceptional talent, close to 453 awards are to be presented with 54 awards for first, second and third place each, two gold, 19 silver and 270 merit awards. The event is expected to create public awareness about the talents of craft practitioners in the island and provide value to the creations of these crafts people, asses their craftsmanship and provide a market for the products, while promoting local handicrafts on local, regional and international level with special focus on tourism industry. “This would also create an instant market for creative efforts of artisans and help continue the creation of handicraft products throughout the year with purchase orders,” Keerthisena said. By getting creative and skilful handicraft practitioners from all corners of the island under one roof, Shilpa National Crafts Festival 2013 will provide a platform for artisans to promote mutual respect and evaluate their abilities among themselves. This would in turn act as a dais for craftsmen to exchange their knowhow and ideas.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara