CoopaCraft International
From CloudPad
Brainstorm for an organization that links western 'next stage' emerging craft entrepeneurs and designers with emerging artisan cooperatives in developing countries.
Visualizing it as a prestigious award/fellowship of sorts for crafters/artisans/designers who achieve a certain level of demand....and a match-making process which promotes symbiosis (growth and success through cooperation).
"Next-stage emerging designers"= crafters of handmade goods who are unable to meet the demand for their products but are perhaps trapped into other jobs to sustain themselves. The 'next stage' would be to facilitate the creation and marketing of limited yet larger runs of the items handmade by an intimate group trained, supervised, and working in conjunction with the artist. These runs might be marketed as Collaborations/Bridge Projects..with accompanying info on the group.
"Emerging artisan cooperatives"= worker owned coops (http://www.fairtradezone.jhc-cdca.org/workerowned.htm) with basic training which need development, marketing, more training and more marketable project designs/ideas. Supporting the growth of Cooperatives instead of sweatshops worldwide.
Create searchable Web data base of artisan coops and contacts worldwide. Peace Corps projects.
Applications reviewed. Coops should be engaged in the matching process....choose out of a group of possible projects/designers in residence.
Grant funding for travel and shipping of materials and products given and stipend towards first run of production.
translators needed. Can ideally be linked with program/fund to bring internet and internet training to cooperatives.
Visiting 'designer in residence' spends one month (?) with coop. trains group in skill and to create items desired. Agreement must be made by group not to copy these particular designs for sale outside of connection. Designer will also help the coop to design item samples that MAY be copied freely if desired. Knowledgeshare of market and use of traditional techniques and materials in inventive ways. (example: 'Altiplano' bags in Honduras made of recycled huipoles) Recycled material crafts
Connection may also foster grassroots marketing assistance....as emerging designer becomes spokesperson and supporter of their coop connection and finds them other designers/work/markets.
see also: OLA arts
Book: [In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World (http://www.herhands.com/)]
List of possible cooperatives/projects in development:
Please help compile this. Add ones that you know of:
Brazil:
- Coopa-Roca (http://www.coopa-roca.org.br/en/index_en.html)
India
- Nirnaya.org/Syeda Faiz Training Institute/Andhra Pradesh (http://nirnaya.org/ap.htm)
Honduras
- Juanpablosegundo.org (http://www.juanpablosegundo.org/)
Swaziland
- Nyanyali Sewing Scheme Association (http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.projdetail&projdesc=645-049)
Zambia
- Living Compassion Sewing Cooperative (http://www.livingcompassion.org/africa/sewingcoop_project.html)
Mexico
- ArtCamp (http://www.artcamp.com.mx/)
Rwanda
- Partners in Conservation (http://www.colszoo.org/Conservation/pic/Artisan/artisan2.htm)
Ecuador
- The Colibris Women´s Artisan Cooperative (http://www.colibrisecuador.org/)
CRAFTS VOLUNTEERS:"The Colibris Women´s Cooperative needs help with developing new, quality designs and products to expand their ranges of artesan products. The ideal volunteer will have some artistic ability and a basic level of Spanish. Skills in helping promote and sell the artwork would be a plus. A minimum committment of 2-3 weeks is requested, and a longer stay is ideal."
The Artisan Video Project (http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~labore/seguir.html)
Thoughts? Talk to me (discussion tab above)
