Supporting, reviving, and valorizing the traditional art and craft sector of Bangladesh.
Since 2016
A melting pot of the arts
Jothashilpa juxtaposes fine art, folk art, native art, and craft to create a new art language rooted in this land.
We work closely with thousands of artisans and traditional folk artists, rural and urban: women expert in hand embroidery, jamdani weavers, cinema banner painters, and rickshaw artists. The centre is a place of exchange between traditional makers and contemporary academic artists, a bridge between traditions and technologies.
There is a striking gap between local artisans and the modern market. Jothashilpa aspires to be the platform that connects them.
What we stand for
Fair trade
Direct support on fair terms, with transparency and recognition
Women's empowerment
Suitable working environments for rural female artists and urban makers
Inclusion
Engaging artisan communities regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity
Our designs strike a balance between traditional and contemporary trends: heritage motifs, modern objects, feasible livelihoods for makers losing their craft to an unkind market.