Approach

The very nature of craft contradicts traditional methods of documentation.  Craft showcases and celebrates variation and dissimilarity.  In Kachchh, each craft tradition has been passed down through generations by the oral and physical transmission of skills and techniques. It is constantly evolving because craft is a living creative industry.  Documentation must therefore reflect continuity, change, and variation to capture the true spirit of craft practice.

KHAMIR not only wants to help artisans promote themselves as part of regional craft tradition but also to distinguish their individual units and family craft tradition. This form of documentation has the potential to reposition, revitalize, and rejuvenate vulnerable craft traditions.  To accomplish this, craft documentation must be interactive and user-friendly.

Services

KHAMIR’s Documentation Service Centre works to:

• Integrate ICT applications and artisan needs and create service products
• Facilitate fresh research which synergizes craft documents with rigorous socio-anthropological documentation
• Support artisans with documented material regarding their own craft, skills, history, techniques, etc which they can use to market their businesses, connect with buyers, and strengthen their brand identity.
• Provide Kachchh artisans with global information resources and exposure. 
• Identify necessary areas of design, ethnographic, socio-economic- cultural, technical areas of research which could contribute to the development and knowledge up gradation of the craft sector.
• Identify necessary areas of design, ethnographic, socio-economic- cultural, technical areas of research which could contribute to the development and knowledge up gradation of the craft sector.

In addition to providing Kachchh artisans with documentation services, KHAMIR’s Documentation Service Centre serves the information needs of three other audiences: partner and regional development organizations, an external audience interested in Kachchh craft and supporting Kachchh’s creative industries, and KHAMIR’s internal documentation needs.   This cell is a central information point where information and research on KHAMIR, craft, development initiatives, and Kachchh is collected, systematized, and dispersed.

For more information about Kachchh craft traditions,livelihoods,challenges and opportunities, visit our Creative Industries pages or hear craft stories from local artisans.