Our past shapes our future. Who we are today and what we’ve accomplished are results of our culture and heritage that have been shaped from generations and have been passed down to us. It is now up to us to preserve our art, culture & heritage as well as give rise to new cultures. If you are non-governmental organization and working for the preservation of Art and Culture. Take a deep look at this sample proposal titled Restoring and Promoting local arts and crafts. This specific proposal is design to conserve and restore the local culture and the artifacts it is really important to preserve the rich culture. This Art & culture project seeks to conserve the local dying arts, crafts, and culture at various regions in South East Asia and also establish archive centers in all the countries to scientifically preserve the artifacts and locally sourced art products. The project would also promote the conservation and restoration of the techniques and forms of arts being practiced in South East Asia.
Background
When we love an object, a piece of art, a painting perhaps, it can become an extension of ourselves, of who we are! If it is something of our own, something that we or our ancestors have created and bestowed upon us, it becomes ever more precious as it defines our roots and that of the generations to come. Similarly, at a macro level, ‘Culture’ is a way of living that is common to a group or a community of people; their dresses, ornaments, songs, language, customs, beliefs, the structure of houses, etc. that make them unique. Their uniqueness automatically adds value to their existence by making them culturally rich. ‘History’ for one is what makes it easier for us to know and learn about people and their culture. It helps us understand them better, their problems, strengths, and weaknesses and makes it convenient to find solutions and help each other in times of need. The most reliable source of history apart from manuscripts and other perishable remains are paintings, murals, and sculptures; they usually pass the test of time, but time and again, we have seen how vulnerable the sturdiest sources of history can be to carelessness and as an object, unlike us there is very little that these sources can do to guard themselves. We can take precautions when we are out and about in the world but these require care and precision for their preservation, maintenance, and longevity. All the countries around the world hold substantial importance when it comes to cultural abundance and one among them are the countries of South and Southeast Asia. The two share abounding similarities when it comes to not just wet and dry climates, abundant trees and tropical forests, fertile lands, and lush river valleys but the fact that the trade routes of the Indian and East Asia’s formed around 500B.C., led to the transfer of world’s two great religions/philosophies: Hinduism and Buddhism from South to Southeast Asia during different periods of time in history. Hence, even though these countries are extremely diverse with their own set of art forms, cuisines, religions, and languages, the placement of Southeast Asia with China to its north and India to its north-west, its few common traits are associated with Indo-Chinese cultures.
Rationale of the Project
The people of Southeast Asia were once thought to be “receptive” rather than “creative” since prehistoric times but later excavations and discoveries in Myanmar and Thailand inspired some scholars to argue against the accepted theory. This is essential due to the loss of the original artifacts of each region with the passage of time that could have depicted their own unique practices and rituals. Very little Southeast Asian painting from 300–600 CE has survived to the present day, owing to the heat and humidity of tropical and subtropical weather, the only evidence that can be gleaned is from the few sculptures and some literary texts that talk about their paintings. It is hence concluded through researchers that the artists worked in perishable mediums, painting mostly on wood, cloth, and palm leaf, none of which have withstood the rigors of the Southeast Asian climate. Other than that the skills acquired and practiced by generations such as:
- The specific diet was given to caterpillars to produce Thai silk,
- Cambodian weaving techniques (ikat),
- Lao sihn (Lao women ankle long skirt) weaving technique,
- Vietnamese Bengaline weave and silk painting,
- Indonesian shadow puppetry (wayang kulit)
- Malaysian uniquely designed Wau kite and men’s headgear (dastar)
- Singaporean technique dyeing fabric (titik)
- Bruneian traditional design (air muleh)
- Filipinos boat making techniques
All the above-mentioned forms of arts are the ones that continue to keep the people of Southeast Asian countries connected with their roots. To conserve and restore the local culture and the artifacts it is really important to preserve the rich culture. The proposed project seeks to conserve the local dying arts, crafts, and culture at various regions in South East Asia and also establish archive centers in all the countries to scientifically preserve the artifacts and locally sourced art products.
Description of the Project
- AIM: The project would promote the conservation and restoration of the techniques and forms of arts being practiced in South East Asia.
- Objective 1. To undertake a detailed study on the existing art forms and identify the most vulnerable forms being practiced in different parts of South East Asia.
- Objective 2. To promote the local art forms which are on the verge of extinction through a series of sensitization campaigns and enhance awareness on conserving and preserving artifacts.
- Objective 3. To establish art archive centers in all the countries to conserve and restore the local arts of different regions within the country.
Location & Duration of the Project
The project would benefit the regional artists and will help in restoring the rich arts, culture, and heritage of the project countries.
- Duration- The project will be carried out over a period of 36 months.
- Location- 11 South East Asian countries viz. Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Implementation of the Project
- Activity 1. Situation Analysis: Our research team will undertake a comprehensive review of the local arts, culture, and traditional practices being practiced in all 11 South East Asian countries viz. Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- The following tasks will be undertaken as part of the study:
- Desktop Review
- Questionnaire Development
- Identification of art clusters
- Survey of the artisans, clusters to identify key challenges
- Survey of art centers and museums
- Analysis of data
- Report Compilation
- The following tasks will be undertaken as part of the study:
- Activity 2. Stakeholder Consultation
- The results of the situation analysis will be shared with relevant stakeholders which would include local administration, government officials, artists, academicians, media professionals, and other NGOs. During the consultation, we will be sharing the results of the situation analysis and will seek the support of the stakeholders in developing a proper strategy to support the dying arts and crafts in each country.
- Activity 3. Identification of 10 art clusters from each country that are on the verge of extinction.
- We shall identify a total of 10 art clusters from each country that are facing the threat of extinction. This will be done through the situation analysis report, consultations and series of discussions with the artisans, local market vendors, and art researchers.
- Activity 4. Conduct Webinars/Seminars
- Displaying the uniqueness of the countries in aspects of their cultural heritage and art and their methods of restoring and preserving what they own. We shall be undertaking a series of webinars and seminars to sensitize the youth of the identified clusters about the importance of conserving the local arts and crafts. This would not only sensitize but empower people to protect and care for what defines them and their community. The seminars will help in the following:
- Giving them brief knowledge about their own country, its history, art, and culture and addressing the long-term detrimental impact of their incognizant attitude that would eventually diminish their significance as a unique and culturally abundant community.
- Making artisans aware of the responsibility and duty they have towards their community to preserve and restore what treasure they possess.
- Tapping the potential of the traditional artists in keeping the arts alive.
- Activity 5. Conducting Workshops to restore artifacts
- Along with seminars and webinars, we will be undertaking practical workshops in the identified clusters. Nuances and technicalities required for the restoration of arts require robust training from expert conservators and restorators as the changing climate and weather conditions demand change in the technicalities of conserving and restoring any form of ancient art. During these training workshops, we will be training the artisans on the following aspects:
- Developing facilities, their temperature regulation, and protection from light to restoring damaged or faded artifacts without altering their originality.
- Having a disaster/ emergency plan and protection from pests and insects to provision for the access and security of these facilities.
- Activity 6. Training of youth in selected artisans
- Young people from the identified clusters will be trained on aspects of their local arts and crafts. Our experts will work with the artisans to help them in understanding the techniques. There will be training workshops for them to master the art followed by a series of workshops on selling their products on online platforms. We will be engaging with the master trainers (generally the old and traditional artists) to keep the originality of the art forms.
- Activity 7. Promoting local arts and crafts
- Along with training the artisans, we shall also conduct awareness sessions to promote the local arts and crafts of the region. As part of the promotions we shall be undertaking the following:
- Exhibitions
- Radio talk shows
- Special events
- Developing linkage with local and national markets
- Digital campaigning
- Along with training the artisans, we shall also conduct awareness sessions to promote the local arts and crafts of the region. As part of the promotions we shall be undertaking the following:
- Activity 8. Tours for youth to explore the local arts and crafts
- Organizing special tours to areas of rich culture and heritage, tours of these areas would be conducted with a nominal fee. The tour guides will be operated by the local youth groups and they will give the details on the local art form, the processes, and its cultural importance. This would act as a good learning and activity session which would not only sensitize the youth but create awareness among people about their rich culture, art, and heritage.
- Activity 9. Annual Research Programs/Projects
- To engage with young researchers, we shall engage with the universities to initiate a research program. The following sub-activities will be undertaken as part of the research program.
- Initiate a research program where graduates or postgraduate students can undertake research assignments to explore the traditional arts and crafts.
- Conduct field training to understand the entire process of making a particular product (right from sourcing raw material to developing the finished product)
- Field surveys would be conducted for a specific period of time for the students to interact with the artisan community.
- Post completion, the participants would be provided with recognition, and their research work would be published on relevant mediums.
- Activity 10. Setting up the art archives
- With the support from the government, we shall be setting up art archives in all the countries. These archives will be a repository of the rich arts and culture of the given country. Along with preserving the past, these archive centers will serve as a live exhibition where the local artists can exhibit their products. The following activities will be part of this:
- Database of artists and art
- Maps with details of art forms and artists
- Historical artifacts, sculptures, murals will be preserved scientifically to intact the originality
- Celebrate local artists
- With the support from the government, we shall be setting up art archives in all the countries. These archives will be a repository of the rich arts and culture of the given country. Along with preserving the past, these archive centers will serve as a live exhibition where the local artists can exhibit their products. The following activities will be part of this:
- Outcomes of the Project
- Improved awareness about the local arts, crafts, and heritage amongst youth.
- Report on the existing status of arts and culture published.
- Archive center for restoration and preservation of local arts established.
- Knowledge of preservation and restoration techniques of artifacts increased.
