From 15 September 2023 to 31 March 2024, the British Council partnered with Kula Conclave, a flagship event hosted by 200 Million Artisans. Though the formal agreement has now concluded, the partnership continues to inspire our broader cultural relations work in India and across South Asia. Held in Goa in December 2024, Kula Conclave 2024 was a 3-day, invitation-only convening that brought together over 220 global stakeholders, including more than 100 high-impact social enterprises, artisans, investors, and innovators. The event spotlighted India’s Creative Manufacturing and Handmade (CMH) ecosystem and addressed critical gaps in inclusive finance, climate resilience, and gender equity. With 66% women participation, the conclave championed inclusive leadership and cross-sector collaboration.
This partnership directly supported the British Council’s Culture Responds to Global Challenges programme by advancing:
- Capacity building and research exchange
- Inclusive networks and investment in craft-led value chains
- Visibility and global collaboration for artisans and creative practitioners
Our support also enabled celebrated master weaver Shamji Vankar to bring his global insights from a British Council-supported artisan residency at Arts University Plymouth to Kula, where he engaged with entrepreneurs on preserving traditional craftsmanship in a modern market.
Kula Conclave’s impact aligns with the British Council’s strategic goals in India and the wider South Asia region. By creating space for dialogue among policymakers, practitioners, and investors, it laid the foundation for regional collaboration that could help unlock the potential of India’s handicrafts sector and beyond. As our work continues, we aim to deepen such engagements that not only celebrate craft as cultural heritage but also as a vehicle for sustainability, inclusion, and economic innovation across South Asia.