A unique fundraiser for India’s artisans

Leading names from the world of art, craft, and hospitality come together for the cause

200 Million Artisans and Creative Dignity are partnering with India’s leading auction house, StoryLTD by Saffronart, to host a unique fundraiser auction — India for Artisans — to support the economic recovery of artisan communities across India. This unique collaboration brings together over 40 donors — leading names from the world of art, craft, and hospitality — who are donating one-of-a-kind products or experiences that tell a ‘Handcrafted in India’ story. Over 50 unique lots will go up for sale as part of a 12 Hour, No Reserve Auction to be hosted online by StoryLTD on November 30, 2021, between 8 am to 8 pm. The auction catalog will be available for public viewing from 25 November 2022 on the StoryLTD website.

An Exciting Line-Up of Donors

The donor list includes many celebrated names from the world of art, craft, and design — committed to elevating the value of the ‘Handcrafted in India’ story. These include Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad, Rooshad Shroff, Asheish Shah, Max Modesti, Anita Dongre, Sanjay Garg, Shibani Jain (Baaya), Srila Chatterjee (Baro Market), Delhi Vintage Company, Ayush and Geetanjali Kasliwal, Prince Yeshwantrao Holkar of Indore, Princess Brijeshwari Gohil of Bhavnagar, Princesses Mrinalika and Akshita Bhanj Deo of Mayurbhanj, architects Shimul Kadri and Samira Rathod, Chairperson of the Crafts Council of India — Gita Ram, Delhi Crafts Council, Jaipur Rugs, Sarmaya Arts Foundation, Sasha Producers Association, Lekha Poddar of Devi Arts Foundation, Mayank Mansingh Kaul among many. Cause Partners who are committed to advocacy and storytelling around the auction include RAW Collaborative, Royal Fables, Hand for Handmade, and Anantaya Decor.

“India for Artisans is now truly becoming an exercise in nationwide solidarity with the goal to recognise and stand behind the makers of India — our true creative and cultural capital,” said Priya Krishnamoorthy, Founder & CEO, 200 Million Artisans.

What to Expect

India for Artisans features traditional, tribal, and contemporary Indian art, craft and experiences, donated by patrons, collectors, galleries, heritage hotels, boutique craft-led homestays, and craft revival trusts from all over the country.

The patrons emphasised that this was the time for them to come together to help those in need. Maharani Radhika Raje (erstwhile Princely State of Baroda) puts it best when she says, “The auction is a very valuable gesture wherein individuals, artists, enterprises, with an abiding love for craft are uniting for a common cause and helping artisan communities bounce back stronger.”

Crafted Experiences

1. Prince Yeshwantrao Holkar of Indore – Stay at Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar, and visit local textile communities anchored by WomenWeave and Rehwa.
2. Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad –  Tea with Maharani Radhika Raje at Lukshmi Villas Palace where she will share more about the family’s work with craft communities and Private tour of the Lukshmi Villas Palace, including the world-famous collection of Raja Ravi Varma paintings.
3. Mrinalika and Akshita Bhanj Deo, Erstwhile Royal Family of Mayurbhanj – Stay at The Belgadia Palace, Mayurbhanj introduces the idea of purposeful travel by engaging with the local tribal community and through curated tours in Odisha

Design-Led

1. Rooshad Shroff – Customised Marble Inlay Plates (Set of 6) with Child’s Doodles
2. Anita Dongre – Hand-painted Clutches in collaboration with Pichwai artist Lekhraj
3. Mangrove Collective – The Speakeasy Chair

Art and Collectibles

1. Shibani Jain of Baaya Design – Forest Story Gond Artwork by Venkat Shyam
2. Jethro Buck – The Forest – Limited Edition Giclee Print
3. Sanjay Garg – Nahar – Cast Iron Lion

Textile Stories

1. Delhi Vintage Company – Handwoven Benarasi Saree in Tanchoi Brocade
2. Mallika Sarabhai – Child’s Kedia from Mallika Sarabhai’s Personal Collection, worn by her and her children.
3. Divaani India – Shahi-Sitara Lehenga from the Maharani Saheba Collection

Home Accessories

1. Geetanjali and Ayush Kasliwal – Amaze Ottoman inspired by the rainwater channels of Mandu and Deeg
2. Jaipur Rugs – Kashmir – Manchaha Rug by Sajana, the artisan at Jaipur Rugs

Expected Impact from funds raised

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Creative Dignity to support their nationwide relief and rehabilitation efforts for artisan communities impacted by COVID-19.

“As the world begins to move towards a semblance of normalcy, it is important for all of us to remember those whose livelihoods have been deeply affected by COVID-19 as well as find ways to support them. India for Artisans is a fundraiser auction that aims at raising enough funds to aid in the economic recovery of various grassroots-level artists and creating a long-term platform to help them sustain and grow their business further. We believe in the importance of and need for this and are hopeful that the fundraiser auction will be successful in raising a significant corpus of funds for this cause.” – Dinesh Vazirani, Saffronart CEO and Co-Founder

“India for Artisans is an inspiring and hopeful auction to help raise funds for our artisan communities who have been particularly impacted by COVID and the lockdowns. Creative Dignity hopes to blur boundaries of art and artisanship through these collaborations at various levels. The fact that these collaborations have happened to support the dignity of the most vulnerable makers is what keeps our faith and hope going.” said Vishpala Hundekari, Co-Founder, Creative Dignity.

Organisations Involved

200 Million Artisans: Founded in 2020, 200 Million Artisans (200M) is a purpose-led ecosystem-enabler reimagining the potential of the handcrafted by bridging gaps in knowledge, resources, and partnerships. 200M’s focus areas include (1) Actionable Research and Insights (2) Resources for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, and (3) Partnerships to Build Culture & Community.  200M was recently selected as one of the SOCAP21 Virtual Scholarship Entrepreneur Winners. 200M is also one of the 14 global recipients (and the only one from India) of the Catalytic Capital Consortium’s Grantmaking program for research on catalytic capital.

Creative Dignity: Creative Dignity is a volunteer-led movement spread across India, actively working on relief, rehabilitation, and rejuvenation within the craft sector. Established in early 2020, Creative Dignity has brought together diverse creative producers, practitioners, and professionals to energise the ecosystem that Indian artisans need in this time of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 impact. By keeping artisans at the core of every initiative, CD’s goal is to enable artisans to become equal and active participants in building a thriving ecosystem, where they have the agency to thrive with dignity. Creative Dignity was recently recognised as one of the 12 ecosystem builders (multi-stakeholder partnerships) in the list of India’s top 50 Covid 19 last-mile responders by the World Economic Forum’s Covid Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs.

StoryLTD by Saffronart:  Launched in 2013, StoryLTD is an auction platform that operates as a service of Saffronart, India’s leading auction house (est. 2000) that brings years of expertise to conducting online auctions. Their art auctions include leading names such as S H Raza, M F Husain, F N Souza, T Vaikuntam, Laxma Goud, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher, and Atul and Anju Dodiya. The traditions of Gond, Warli, Madhubani, and Kalighat pats find a platform in the StoryLTD folk and tribal art auctions.

Everything on StoryLTD is “limited” in its uniqueness, availability, or value; nothing is commonplace. StoryLTD is selective about who and what they feature, and many products are available exclusively through them. “We are proud to have some of the leading designers, independent retailers, manufacturers, artists, collectors, and dealers from India and around the globe as our partners.”