British Council launches exhibition as India Craft Week launches across New Delhi

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Feb 19, 2021

On February 18, the British Council launched a ‘Warli Exhibition’ at the British Council Gallery in New Delhi to celebrate the launch of India Craft Week 2021. The event celebrates Indian craft traditions across the city.

The British Council exhibition, which runs until February 21 and features paintings by Jivya Soma Mashe, is part of Chapter Three of India Craft Week, which has launched across the city of New Delhi. The event aims to bring together brands, designers, craftspeople, institutions, and folk performers for interactive events, performances, and dialogue sessions. Along with the British Council, India Craft Week is also supported by the Nehru Centre, GMR Group, and the World Craft Council. 
 
“India’s crafts, arts and culture is its DNA, global competitive advantage and driver of wealth creation in the formal and informal economy,”  said the British Council’s director of arts, Jonathan Kennedy, in a press release.

“The crafts economy includes tens of millions of craftworkers producing astonishing work of quality in rural communities and the metros in India. Through British Council’s Crafting Futures programme we have been instrumental in bringing together major Indian and UK partners to co-develop and collaborate on projects which strengthen livelihoods and skills in crafts in India.
 
“We understand that this is a difficult time for the craft sector,” said Kennedy.

“Nevertheless, we firmly believe that culture connects us and at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic creativity and collaboration binds us together. We have partnered with the India Craft Week to reach out across digital frontiers and national boundaries in solidarity with the many inspiring craftworkers of India and beyond.”