Empowering Art and Craft of Maharashtra Region

This paper discusses the issues of empowerment of art and craft. The particular relevance for the well-being of individuals and groups in India, Specific attention is paid to the relation between artisans, craftsman and different crafts of their region. With nearly half percent of total artisans in our country, India, a lot more remains to be done to ensure the survival, growth and to empower their art and craft. The issue of empowering art has become topical at both continental and international level. Taking into consideration the reported challenges encountered by artisans (especially artisans in rural areas) such as poverty, low literacy levels and unemployment, government and local initiatives are seeking ways to empower artisans so that they can become their own agents of positive change. Previous research has indicated that art and craft, making as a leisure - based activity yields numerous benefits for participants, including improved wellbeing, an enhanced sense of self and self - efficacy and economical gains. Using a semi - structured questionnaire, this qualitative study explored the contribution of leisure - based community arts and crafts projects toward the social empowerment of arts and crafts of the village, their region and a step towards a better future for them and field notes were analysed through qualitative content analysis to develop themes. The results indicate that community-based arts and crafts projects in those areas are drowning down. This information serves as a means for economic empowerment, enhancing a sense of community, establishing networks of support and are also therapeutic for the artisans. It is concluded that community arts and crafts projects make a positive contribution toward empowering women also but require more support from available structures to ensure sustained benefits from participation for the establishment of art and craft sector worldwide in future.