Crafts Council of Odisha organizes “Master Crafters” an unique exhibition

Bhubaneswar: Crafts Council of Odisha is organizing a two-day exhibition titled “Master Crafters”, which honors the traditional crafts and skills of artisans of Odisha. Inaugurating the exhibition, Smt. Poonam Guha Tapas Kumar, IAS – Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Govt of Odisha said that the government has prepared a cluster development program under Shrujanika to improve the handicrafts of the state. Under this program, we will develop various clusters for handicrafts like Pattachitra, Dhokra, Golden grass, Sabai Ghasa. This will not only help in branding the products, but will also provide the necessary marketing and marketing linkages for these handicrafts.

The two-day event will feature 20 master craftsmen, including national and state award winners, showcasing a variety of Odisha handicrafts. Artifacts such as Patta painting, Stone carving, terracotta, wood carving, applique, golden grass, sabai gasa, silver filigree, seashell art, dhokra casting, tribal paintings, and hand-woven ikat will be on display and available for sale.

Shri Santosh Kumar Mahapatra, IAS (Retd) Chairman, Crafts Council of Odisha said, “This is a special kind of exhibition and this is our second edition. It showcases the crafts of a very few established and award-winning artisans. Our aim is to create interest among the public for the state’s rich handicrafts. Normally, we organize exhibitions in winters. But this time we are doing it in the summer season when the artisans do not get any opportunity to sell their artifacts.”

The objective of the event is to promote excellence in craftsmanship, provide timely marketing opportunities, and encourage direct interaction between artisans and buyers. The initiative will not only provide financial support to the artisans, but also enhance the reputation of traditional crafts of Odisha.

The Crafts Council of Odisha is affiliated to the Crafts Council of India and the World Crafts Council. It is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and sustainable development of the rich craft tradition of the state. The Council supports artisans in skill development, marketing, innovation, and design development.

The event attracts craft lovers, collectors, connoisseurs, and the general public who are eager to experience and support the living heritage of Odisha’s crafts.

Council Member Smt. Revati Pani proposed the vote of thanks.

Among Other dignitaries who were present at the event were Smt. Revati Pani, Sj. Ramesh Swain, Dr. Adyasha Dash, and Sj. Tapan Mohanty.