Strategic Collaboration Between Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha and Haven Crafts
Background & Intent
Haven Crafts is a social enterprise conceptualized by Rakhi Jain, a young changemaker with a deep passion for India’s cultural heritage and artisan welfare. Although Rakhi is a student and legally unable to manage full-scale organizational operations independently, her vision to empower traditional artisans, promote heritage crafts, and build sustainable livelihoods led her to seek institutional support.
Recognizing the need for a credible, experienced, and grassroots-connected organization, Rakhi Jain approached Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha, a registered umbrella body representing over 5,000 artisans across Odisha for a strategic partnership. This collaboration ensures that her vision can be translated into action through a structured and community-aligned approach.
About Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha
Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha is a registered platform representing a wide spectrum of artisans, craftepreneurs, and master craftsmen in Odisha. With deep roots in rural and tribal clusters, the Mahasangha works to promote, protect, and empower artisans practicing diverse crafts such as Pattachitra, appliqué, stone carving, Sabai and golden grass weaving, terracotta, tribal painting, and more. Its work spans capacity building, advocacy, welfare, market linkage, and cluster development.
Areas of Collaboration
1. Design & Product Development
Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha:
- Identify clusters and materials.
- Organize ideation and prototype testing.
- Coordinate with artisans.
Haven Crafts (under Rakhi Jain’s creative direction):
- Guide design innovation for market relevance.
- Finalize product specifications.
- Offer mentorship in style, function, and aesthetics.
2. Digital & Printed Catalogue Creation
Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha:
- Facilitate product access and documentation logistics.
Haven Crafts:
- Handle creative direction, photography, design, and publishing of both digital and print catalogues.
3. Awareness & Training Programs
Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha:
- Mobilize artisans, provide venues, and handle permissions.
Haven Crafts:
- Design training modules.
- Provide expert trainers, kits, and mentorship.
4. Online Sales Enablement
Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha:
- Aggregate and authenticate artisan products.
- Assist in description and pricing.
Haven Crafts:
- Host products on its digital platform.
- Manage logistics, packaging, branding, and customer service.
5. Physical Exhibitions
Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha:
- Organize and host exhibitions with local/government backing.
- Facilitate artisan travel and stall setup.
Haven Crafts:
- Design stalls, manage branding, and support sales.
Financial Responsibilities
Haven Crafts (through external support and donations) will bear:
- Catalogue production
- Expert fees and training kits
- Travel and stay for trainers
- Digital promotion and post-training handholding
- Exhibition branding
- Platform maintenance
Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha will:
- Offer venue access
- Mobilize artisans and obtain permissions
- Help secure institutional/governmental cooperation
Intellectual Property
All training content, designs, catalogues, and media produced shall remain the intellectual property of Haven Crafts, under the guardianship of Rakhi Jain’s parents or designated trustee. Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha may use selected materials for non-commercial outreach, with credit. No alteration or third-party sharing is permitted without Haven Crafts’ written permission.
Shared Vision & Values
This partnership is grounded in a mutual belief in:
Empowering grassroots artisans with dignity and opportunity
Reviving and rebranding Odisha’s craft legacy
Promoting fair trade and ethical production
Bridging generational and geographical gaps in the artisan economy
Together, Haven Crafts and Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha will transform a young girl’s dream into a state-wide movement of heritage preservation, artisan empowerment, and sustainable development.