Jaipur. ARCH College of Design & Business celebrated its 26th Foundation Day with a special event titled “Women in Design – Artisanal Excellency Awards,” dedicated to craftsmanship, creativity, and women empowerment. The event witnessed the participation of distinguished guests, artisans, designers, academicians, and students, celebrating India’s rich craft heritage and the evolving role of design.
The कार्यक्रम began with the traditional lighting of the lamp and Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing knowledge, creativity, and new beginnings. This was followed by an audio-visual presentation showcasing the journey of ARCH College and its achievements over the past year, highlighting its commitment to design education, innovation, and preservation of cultural heritage.
In her welcome address, Founder and Director Archana Surana emphasized that the institution aims to empower women and artisan communities by connecting tradition, knowledge, and innovation through design thinking. With nearly three decades of experience in design education, she is also a member of the Cumulus Executive Board. She stressed the need to nurture designers who are not only creative but also socially and environmentally responsible.
Students presented a theatrical performance titled “Roots vs Reels,” creatively depicting the dialogue between tradition and modernity. The performance conveyed that heritage and the digital age can complement each other to create new possibilities.
The highlight of the event included two major panel discussions and award ceremonies. The first panel, “Weaving the Future: Craft, Culture and Creative Economy,” focused on integrating traditional crafts with design innovation and the creative economy. Women artisans associated with woodcraft, jute craft, jewelry design, hand block printing, Thikri art, and Tarkashi were honored during this session.
The second panel, “Heritage to Marketplace: Reimagining Craft through Design,” explored how design can connect traditional crafts to modern markets and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities. Women artisans working in terracotta, applique and embroidery, blue pottery, lac craft, hand block printing, and puppetry were recognized.
Dr. Ashu Chaudhary, Registrar of Rajasthan University and a senior Rajasthan Administrative Service officer, along with Padmini Kumari, founder of “Royal Treasure” and a member of Jaipur’s royal family, attended as chief guests. They honored the artisans and appreciated their contribution to preserving India’s craft traditions.
Additionally, Sonal Chitranshi, CEO of FORHEX, and Ramanika Kaur, State Project Manager at Rajeevika, shared insights on collaborative efforts to empower artisan communities and strengthen rural livelihoods.