THESIS SYNOPSIS

CULTURAL VILLAGE FOR CRAFTSMANSHIP AND FOLKLORE ARTS, KANNUR

Ajith Chandran | Roll no: 4 | MASAP Kottayam
Topic : Cultural Village for Craftsmanship and Folklore Arts, Kannur

Location : Kannur
Nature of Project : Live
Typology : Studio Cum Residential

INTRODUCTION
Kerala is a major manufacturer & exporter of traditional handicrafts in the country.
The artisans of Kerala are well known for their wood carvings, designer jewellery and idols in
metal. Kerala is also famous for artefacts and curios made out of bamboo, coconut shell, coir
and other materials.

The Handicraft sector is one of the traditional industries of Kerala. Kerala has the
tradition of making beautiful handicrafts with ivory, bamboo, palm leaves, seashells, wood,
coconut shells, clay, cloth, coir, metals, stone, lacquer ware, and so on. Many old handicraft
classics can be seen in palaces, old heritage homes and museums across the State. A vast
majority of the traditional artisans belong to socially and economically backward classes.

Kerala is well known for its articulate craftsmanship, which is an intimate part of her
tradition. Kerala handicrafts, due to its unique, original creative characteristics and
unsurpassed sense of colours has got a pride of place in Indian handicrafts map. The local arts
and crafts industry in Kerala is so strong that you can find handcrafted articles made of a large
variety of resources such as wood, bell metal, brass, coconut shell, banana fibre, screw pine,
straw, other natural fibres, papier Mache, textiles, Cora grass, cane and bamboo, buffalo horn
etc.

Kerala crafts is mainly linked to traditions, festivals and rituals observed in our state

Though every district of the state has the culture of practicing a number of handicrafts
activities but each district has specials reputations for one or two crafts. Perinad in Kollam
district is famous for straw picture craft. Ernakulam and Idukki district are famous for bamboo
crafts. Artisans practicing bell metal craft is mostly found in Mannar and chengannur area in
Alappuzha district, Nadavarambu area in Thrissur, and Kunjimangalam in Kannur
District. Cherpu, Thrissur is famous for wooden elephants. Wayanad, and Alappuzha districts
are famous for natural fiber crafts.
Current Scenario in India

According to the official figures it is estimated to be 7 million artisans in India engaged

in craft production to earn their livelihood. India’s participation in the modern world economy
is decade old, despite of that millions of Indian still depend on indigenous modes of
production, traditional techniques and skills for manufacturing handmade products. The
economic statuses of these rural artisans are far below the satisfactory level, which also
makes their marketing power weaker both at selling and buying levels.

• Survey shows that households headed by these artisans have much lower net wealth and
90% are landless.
• Competition with the industrial sophisticated and cheap products.
• Weak Financial Power and inability to get bank loans
• Illiteracy of artisans.
• Non availability of quality raw material.
• Lack of skill improvement and technology up gradation.
• Shift of rural customers towards the industrial product
• Non-existence of infrastructural facilities.
• Very low income and no regular work to Artisans.
• Neglect by Government and absence of non-farm policies.

Current Scenario of Art and Craft Villages in Kerala

Sargaalaya Art and Craft Village, Iringal,

Kozhikode with the rare combination of art
and tourism, the village paves platform for the
development of traditional artisans. The whole
traditional industry of Arts and Handicrafts is
getting boosted with ample opportunity for
the sale of their products and they are given
brand protection as well. They are also
provided with the opportunity of learning the
unique skills from the talented artisans.
 Arts and Craft Village, Vellar, Trivandrum, it was to be a sought-after marketplace where
the best of Kerala’s traditional craftsmen could sell their masterpieces to avid buyers. And
with its four open theatres and an auditorium, the village was also to serve as a cultural
hub and play host to performances of all kinds. But six years later, just five of the 27 craft
huts still host any craftsmen. And even these men see their spots as workshops, while they
go elsewhere looking for showrooms and customers .

• Both these are art and craft villages which support local artisans to promote the small
handicrafts.

• This does not include a residential area for the artists to stay and practice their work.
Proposal for Global Artist Village in Kannur, Kerala

India’s first state-run global artist village is all set to open in Kannur in Kerala.

• The village, of international standards, is meant to provide artists from the country and
abroad a common platform to live and work together.

• The project is under the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, under the Department of Cultural
Affairs.

• Provide space for artisans at a nominal rate.

Source : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/
Source : https://www.ndtv.com/south/global-artist-village-to-come-up-in-kerala-716023#ndtv_related
AIM

Design and build a space for artisans from different fields, from different parts of
Kerala to join & stay together to work on their own fields and also to collaborate with other
artists in creating more art works – mainly provides canvas for granite, wood, metal and clay
artists.

OBJECTIVES

• To study the potential of the field of art and importance of an artisan and the problems
they face in the current situation.

• To find ways to tackle problems which lead to abandonment of some of the art and craft
villages in Kerala.

• To study requirements of different studio spaces.

• To create platform for artisans to learn, teach and showcase their works to outside world.

• To provide work space for all kinds of artisans to work in peace.

• Integration of local arts and crafts.

• To create skill development centre for people of all ages.

• To impart a unique experience of exploring Kerala’s art and craft heritage.

SCOPE

• Lack of well-designed residential cum studio facilities in art and craft village.

• Exploration of new art forms.

• Promotes tourism.

• Provide a platform for celebrating arts and crafts; demonstrating arts and craft and
function as a centre of excellence.

• Create a landmark for the place.

LIMITATIONS

• Need to do different case studies for each space since the project include different type of
studios.
 CASE STUDIES – LIVE & LITERATURE

1. Sargalaya Art and Craft Village

Location : Payyoli, Calicut
Total site area : 20 acre (8.1 ha)
Built up area :
Year of completion : 2011

2. Sanskriti Kendra
Location : Anandgram
Delhi
Area : 3 hectares
Year of completion : 1993
Architect : Upal Ghosh
Associates

3. Uttarayan Art village

Location : Jashpur, Vadodara
Total site area : 8 acres
Area for art centre : 34800 sq.ft
Built up area : 1420 sq.m
Year of completion : 2017
Architect : Karan Grover and Associates
4. Clay fingers pottery
Location : Urakam, Thrissur
Year of establishment : 2008
METHODOLOGY

Cultural Village for Craftsmanship and Folklore Arts, Kannur

Need of the project Case studies Data collection

Study current scenario

Live Literature
of art and craft sector
in Kerala and India

•Sargalaya Art & • Uttarayan Art

Site identification (Live Craft village, Village,
proposal) Calicut Vadodara
• Clay fingers • Sanskriti Kala
pottery, Thrissur Kendra, Delhi
Study the site
feasibility

Analyse the selected

Inference
site

Design brief

Design
development

Final design
 Requirement
• Reception
• Administration
• Arts and Crafts Gallery (Museum)
• Training and Workshop
• Restaurants / Café
• Shops
• Quarters or Residence, Guest houses etc
• Other Facilities
• Theatre area
• Recreation spaces
• Parking
• Studios
▪ Wood carving
▪ Metal craft (Bronze Craft, lamp making, etc)
▪ Clay craft (Pottery)
▪ Straw picture craft
▪ Textiles
▪ Coir and Coconut shell craft

Site Details

The site is located in Kakkannanpura, Sreekandapuram, Kannur, Keralam