The handicrafts sector not only preserves the cultural heritage of a country but also provides employment to a vast segment of crafts persons in rural & semi urban areas. India is one of the important suppliers of handicrafts to the world market. Handicraft contributes significantly to the exports and generates substantial foreign exchange. The growth potential of the sector both in terms of domestic and global market is extensive. The traditional repertoire of the variety of materials used in handicrafts, their forms, functions, techniques and cultural semantics is more relevant in today’s context and concern for sustainability.
The Indian Institute of Crafts & Design, Jaipur was set up as an autonomous institute by the Government of Rajasthan in the year 1995. Since October 2007, the Institute is being funded and managed by Ambuja Educational Institute (AEI) under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The main objective of IICD is to develop high quality professionals to act as catalysts of change in the crafts sector. Due to the changing consumer taste and trends, there is a need for Indian handicraft industry to bring changes in designs, patterns, product development, innovations and production facilities to achieve a leadership position in the fast growing competition
IICD has extensive association in the crafts sector with NGOs, craft clusters, industry, development agencies, government agencies, design schools, experts and other relevant institutions. IICD has conducted exchange programmes with international and national institutions like Harriot Watt University, Wisconsin University, BRICS, Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad) Upendra Maharathi Anusandhan Sansthan, and JK Lakshmipat University. IICD has conducted collaborative craft and design workshops with L’école de Design Nantes Atlantique (France), Massey University (New Zealand) and Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology (Bengaluru). IICD has established linkages with Wadhwani Foundation and Start up Oasis to nurture entrepreneurship ecosystem on campus amongst students
IICD has signed MOUs with various international universities such as: • Plymouth College of Art (UK) • ENSAD (France) • West Dean College (Uk) • Nottingham Trent University (UK) • L’École de design Nantes Atlantique (France) • Ecole Duperre (France) for student exchange and collaborative research activities in the area of crafts and design.
Nationally, IICD has MOUs with many institutions and organisations: • IIM Udaipur • Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI) • Kamla Nehru College • JK Lakshmipat University • Network of Indian Cultural Enterprises (NICE) • Wadhwani Foundation.
The IICD chairperson is Smt.Madhu Neotia and the dean of the Institute is Director Dr.Toolika Gupta.Smt.Madhu Neotia is a Trustee of Performing Arts Institute, Padatik,
MEMBER of the Board of Regional Committee of ICCR, Kolkata and Former President of Ladies Study Group, an affiliate of Indian Chamber of Commerce.
Dr.Toolika Gupta is a founding member and Secretary of the Textiles and Clothing Research Centre, New Delhi, www.tcrc.in. Her areas of research are Indian dress and textile history- https://glasgow.academia.edu/ToolikaGupta. She is a member of CII Design Committee of 2019, 20, and 21. She is also a member of FICCI entrepreneurship committee and is on the board of studies of many design institutes.
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