Visits since 1 Apr 2024
6,175,355
Visits since 1 Jan 2007 48,036,944
|
The Kerala Arts and Crafts Village at Vellar, one of the ambitious projects of Kerala Tourism, which aims to promote art and crafts from across the world is nearing completion. The 20 crore-project is being implemented in 8.52 acres at Vellar in Thiruvananthapuram. The first phase of the revamped project has been completed. As part of the first phase, 28 craft studios, a design lab, an art gallery, an auditorium, a conference hall, a sales emporium, a mela (fair) court and a restaurant have been set up in the village. The construction of tiled pathways and renovation of sanitation facilities have also been finished. The thrust of the project is on promoting the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Kerala and improving the livelihood of artists and artisans in the state.
The project has been classified into three phases and the second phase will see the setting up of an academy to provide training to talented art students and designers. The project is being managed by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) with whom the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala has signed a contract.
The 28 studios will feature artists and their work from across Kerala, along with a studio dedicated to one artist of international repute. Live demonstrations will be held here. The art and craft from across Kerala will be showcased in such a way that, by walking into the workspace of the artists in these studios, travellers will get a first-hand experience on how each handicraft is fashioned. The visitors will also get to try their hands at craft making. The artists will have their own workspace in these studios where they will get to create the artworks. Some of the ethnic and traditional handicrafts that will be exhibited include Aranmula Kannadi (hand-crafted mirror), Balaramapuram Kaithari (handloom), Kerala mural art, metal crafts, Nettur Petti (ornamental box), coir craft, coconut husk crafts and so on. Kudumbasree members who have been trained in crafts will also exhibit their products made out of bamboo, cane and dry flowers along with jewellery and pooram crafts. Each studio is expected to cover more than 200 sq. ft. and artisans for these studios have already been identified.
The village has been envisaged as a cultural and heritage hub where the sole aim will be on promoting the art and crafts of the land. "A lot of the art and crafts of Kerala are fading into oblivion. The focus of the village is to showcase the rich art and crafts and support the livelihood of the artists. Further, we have entered into an agreement with over ten countries and artisans of these countries will arrive and exhibit their ethnic crafts here," said an official of ULCCS.
The sales emporium will feature art and crafts from across the world while the art gallery will hold exhibitions of artists, including foreign travellers. Exhibitions will be held here every month. The focus is also on cultural exchange. The mela court will hold large-scale exhibitions and will feature artists and artisans from across the country. The art and craft festivals will be held separately.
