Workshop: Lok Virsa to help artisans commercialise their work

Initiative included lessons on skill refinement, presentation and marketing

ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) organised a week-long training workshop for artisans here at the Heritage Museum. The purpose of the workshop was to introduce these artisans to modern and innovative techniques of skills refinement, presentation and marketing which will enable them to commercialise their work while meeting the challenges of the modern day economy.

The trainings were given in ajrak making, beads work, Swati and Kashmiri shawl embroidery, Kashmiri wood carving, gabba, truck art, stone carving, lacquer art, wood work, mirror work, making frames as well as pottery.

The principle mentor at the workshop was famed designer Ehtasham ul Haq. He is a graduate of National College of Arts (NCA) and recently retired as Director "Sanat Zar - Social Welfare," Ministry of Punjab.

He has prior experience of conducting similar workshops with artisans on innovative designing in various districts of South Punjab. Various other renowned guest artists also delivered lectures on design improvements during the workshop.

The artisans were also provided with a 15-day exhibition where they had a chance to display their work as an attempt to help them make a profit from it.

The exhibition showcasing their works ran from 4 pm - 8 pm daily on Upper Deck area of Heritage Museum. Executive Director Lok Virsa Shahera Shahid and Pakistan National Council of Arts Director General Jamal Shah also attended the concluding session of the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, they said the workshop was aimed to introduce the artisans to modern and innovative techniques of skill refinement, presentation and marketing, adding that such events held create an atmosphere of peace, tolerance and harmony.  

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2018.