Mumbai : In a significant step towards placing Indian craftsmanship
within a global contemporary dialogue, JSW Foundation, the philanthropic arm of
the diversified JSW Group has announced its collaboration with Homo Faber 2026,
the internationally acclaimed cultural movement supporting creative artisans
worldwide presented by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and
Craftsmanship.
Through
this collaboration, JSW Foundation will support the participation of Indian artisans
at the fourth edition of the Homo Faber Biennial, to be held from 1 to 30
September 2026 at the historic Fondazione Giorgio Cini on San Giorgio Maggiore Island
in Venice. The biennial brings together exceptional artisans from across the
world, spotlighting craftsmanship as a living, evolving creative practice.
Curated
under the theme “Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light,” the upcoming
edition will feature works by hundreds of artisans whose practices span
materials, techniques and cultural contexts. By becoming a Homo Faber Guardian of Creativity and
Craftsmanship, JSW Foundation will enable Indian artisans to participate
in this global platform, offering them international visibility and meaningful
engagement beyond traditional narratives of craft.
The
collaboration was announced at the India
Art Fair on 5 February, in the presence of Tarini Jindal Handa and Sangita Jindal, reaffirming JSW Foundation’s
commitment to championing craft traditions from India and South Asia on a
global stage.
Speaking
on the collaboration, Sangita Jindal,
Chairperson, JSW Foundation, said, “We are proud that JSW Foundation will
participate in Homo Faber in Venice in September 2026, creating an
international stage where Indian master artisans engage with global audiences,
not as representatives of folklore, but as peers in a shared creative
language.”
Sangita
Jindal has been instrumental in building capacity for artisans through her
leadership at JSW Foundation, creating opportunities through skill development,
design collaborations, market access and global platforms. Her efforts have
focused on preserving traditional crafts while positioning artisans as
contemporary creators, strengthening livelihoods and elevating Indian
craftsmanship on the international platforms.
“Homo Faber 2026 will be dedicated to craft
artists from all over the world, whose outstanding artworks will contribute to
the narrative that Artistic Director Es Devlin is creating,” said Alberto Cavalli, Executive Director of
the Michelangelo Foundation. “Our partnership with JSW Foundation is
allowing us to give space, attention and relevance to a meaningful selection of
gifted artisans from India whose work represents the authenticity, beauty and
sophistication of contemporary Indian artisanship. Their participation will
help these artisans gain reputation, visibility and hope – the same hope we
share: that beauty, crafted by humans for humans, will always be the universal
language that nourishes our community.”
With this
collaboration, JSW Foundation reinforces its long-standing commitment to
preserving and advancing India’s craft traditions, while repositioning Indian
artisans within a global contemporary framework, one that recognises
craftsmanship not as heritage alone, but as a vital and forward-looking
creative force.