‘Artisans Voices: Dialogues for Sustainable Practices’ is a publication focusing on craftspeople as bearers of ancestral cultural heritage.

This initiative is part of Crafting Futures, the British Council's global programme celebrating the value of craft in our history, culture and world today.

This project was possible thanks to the partnership between British Council, REDIT a network of 7 public universities in Argentina and Craft Revival Trust.

Working collaboratively between craft communities and other disciplines is often a challenging scenario. In order to explore possible sustainable futures at these crossroads, the book brings together craft practitioners, designers and organisations from Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The resulting dialogue underlines the universal values inherent in mutually beneficial cross-cultural processes. Craftspeople keep knowledge alive and ensure its safeguarding by passing it on from one generation to the next. Listening and responding to their voices translates into cultural richness and the development of healthier ties.

‘Artisans Voices: Dialogues for Sustainable Practices’ is organised in two sections. The first section addresses the ethical practices that are indispensable to the relationship between craft and the wider world: Respect, Recognition, Consent, Attribution, Benefit Sharing, Protection and Active Listening. The second section highlights some aspects of the craft ecosystem that impact on its practices: Cultural Institutions, Transmission and Education, Tourism, Technology and Co-creation.

The book is based on research carried out in Argentina between 2019 and 2021. The survey, which gathered the experiences and points of view of those who make up the fabric of the joint processes of knowledge creation and exchange, reached more than 570 people. This study was devised in partnership with Rachel Kelly (Manchester School of Art), REDIT (Federal Inter-University Network for Clothing and Textile Design), with advice from the Craft Revival Trust of India. The information gathered and the working methodology can be found in the report entitled ‘Crafting Futures: Exploring the craft ecosystem in Argentina’. Over the course of 2021, the research was extended to South Asia thanks to the global reach of the British Council's Crafting Futures programme.

‘Artisans Voices: Dialogues for Sustainable Practices’ is a freely distributed publication, available for download online here in English and Spanish.