Crafting Change- Apni Kala, Apni Awaz, Celebrating 20 years of Rangsutra

‘Crafting Change – Apni Kala Apni Awaz, celebrating 20 years of Rangsutra’, supported by the HCL Foundation, to be held at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi. Is envisioned as a multi-format, multi-stakeholder platform that brings together artisans, craft organisations, designers, buyers, policymakers, consumers and institutions working in the livelihoods and craft ecosystem. The event goes beyond celebrating Rangsutra’s work, and instead opens up wider conversations on the future of craft in India, its scale, sustainability and global relevance.

Craft Bazaar & Partner Stalls

19 – 21 March 2026

11:00 am to 7:00 pm

A three-day craft bazaar will feature stalls by Rangsutra, E-Haat and long-standing partner organisations, many of whom have been supported or incubated by Rangsutra and have since grown into independent institutions. This space will allow visitors to engage, buy directly with organisations and products that represent ethical, community-led craft practices.

Dialogues & Panel Discussions

19 – 21 March 2026

The dialogue series will bring together key stakeholders from across the craft, livelihoods, policy and market ecosystem to reflect on pressing questions shaping the future of the craft sector guided by the theme ‘Crafting Change – Apni Kala, Apni Awaz, celebrating 20 years of Rangsutra’. The discussions will focus on systemic change rather than isolated interventions, and will include voices from the grassroots, institutions, corporates, designers, academia, and Gen Z, recognising their role in reinterpreting craft for contemporary contexts and ensuring its continued relevance for future generations. By encouraging cross-generational and cross-disciplinary exchange, the conversations aim to inspire new forms of engagement, innovation, and ownership within the sector.. The panels will also showcase successful models and impact stories, highlighting learnings that can inform scalable, inclusive approaches across the craft value chain.

Immersive Exhibition | Art Gallery

18 – 24 March 2026

11:00 am to 7:00 pm

The art gallery at Triveni Kala Sangam will host an immersive exhibition that narrates the story of Rangsutra as an ecosystem centred about- people, place, craft and environment. Through installations, textiles and large embroidered scrolls, the exhibition will explore the interconnectedness of rural landscapes, local ecology, village life and craft practices.

The exhibition will highlight how Rangsutra’s products are rooted in the rural ecosystem and shaped by collective knowledge, natural surroundings and long-standing traditions. Visitors will experience craft not just as finished products, but as living practices sustained by communities, systems and relationships.

About the panel topics:

Mainstreaming craft and the role of government and policy makers (19/03/26, Thursday, 5:00 to 6:30pm): This session will examine how crafts can move from the margins to the mainstream, and the critical role government and policymakers play in enabling this shift. It will explore policy frameworks, institutional support and public investment needed to strengthen craft ecosystems, ensure fair livelihoods, and transform conventional supply chains into value chains that recognise people, skills and communities.

Women at the Centre of Craft Economies (20/03/26, Friday, 3:30 to 5:00pm): This session looks at what shifts when women are not just participants but decision-makers within craft economies. We will explore how women’s control over production, income and ownership reshapes households, enterprises and communities, while also critically looking at the gaps that still limit women’s leadership and long-term agency in craft ecosystems.

Documenting social impact (21/03/26, Saturday, 11:30am to 1:00pm): This session will explore why documenting social impact matters and how organisations working with crafts and communities can move beyond anecdotes to meaningful, credible narratives. It will look at the challenges of capturing social change, the balance between numbers and stories, and how impact documentation can strengthen learning, accountability and long-term strategy.

Craft and the Future: Sustainability Beyond the Buzzwords (21/03/26, Saturday, 3:00 to 4:30pm): This session moves past fashionable language to examine sustainability as it is actually lived and practised within craft communities. It will reflect on the knowledge systems and practices that existed long before sustainability became a global concern, while also addressing the real pressures traditional crafts face today and how they can remain relevant without being romanticised.

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Host or Publisher Richa Bhatia