Jaipur Rugs

Production residency

Residency brief

Jaipur Rugs, founded in 1978 by Nand Kishore Chaudhary, a social entrepreneur with the philosophy of connecting grassroots weavers to the world’s urban customers, Jaipur Rugs became India's largest manufacturer of hand-knotted carpets. Started with two looms and 9 weavers, today the company directly collaborates with more than 40,000 rural artisans in nearly 600 remote villages of India and exports to more than 90 countries in the world.

Initiatives like “Manchaha - what the heart desires”, where weavers have the freedom to design their rugs, have led to a cultural movement where the artisans are expressing simple thoughts in unexpected patterns, showcasing their personal stories and the culture in which they live. The weavers pick and choose the aspects of their reality around them, give shape to their intangible thoughts, and as an evolving engagement with their carpet creations, translate their experiences in the form of art. Jaipur Rugs’ International Artist Village Residency aims to create interactive art spaces in the villages of Rajasthan, where the women weavers work from the comfort of their homes. The residency believes in the creative capabilities of the grassroots and the possibilities of innovation by facilitating the strength of co-creation of traditional, generational weavers and the international contemporary artists of the world. Through this exchange, a fusion of ancient weaving techniques, honed over 2500 years, and modern artistic expression emerges, all inspired by the land and culture of Rajasthan, India. The project developed throughout the residency may later be exhibited in one of the global stores of Jaipur Rugs (Jaipur/Dubai/London/Milan)

  • Thematic focus Arts & Crafts, Textile (Yarn spinning, dying, weaving), and Visual Arts
  • Location Jaipur, Rajasthan
  • Dates Open
  • Length of stay Open

Location

Jaipur is a city with various charms. The royal city of Rajasthan is not just home to forts, palaces and incredible architecture, it is home to intricate arts and crafts. The Pink City, as it is lovingly called, has a rich history of performing culture and craft production. Today, Jaipur has 30 different craft forms, and at least 7 mainstream performing arts with 36 craft industries of different kinds of crafts, from textile production to stonework.

Jaipur is known for the finest hand-made carpets and rugs. Woven in rich colors, patterns, and designs, the wool or silk rugs and carpets are best used as home décor items. The residency will take place in selected villages in and around Jaipur, which consist of master weavers who are specialized in Persian hand-knotted and hand tufted carpet making. The villages are also filled with other crafts like pottery, lac bangle making, stone work, leather shoe making, silver jewelry, etc. The residents will have exposure visits to these workplaces and interaction with the local knowledge keepers.

Residency conditions

  • The resident is expected to develop a meaningful body of work during their stay, which may include a series of artworks. The scope and scale of the work will be discussed and agreed upon based on the resident’s artistic practice and engagement with the local craft techniques.
  • The resident will have access to the selected weaver artists from the village and willing to work in collaboration with the local craftsmen.
  • The materials required for creating the artworks will be arranged based on individual discussions with the resident.
  • The resident will be provided with three meals a day, with tea/coffee available upon request.
  • The resident will have access to a dedicated studio space within the office premises, equipped with essential facilities.
  • The resident will be introduced to all stages of the weaving process, including the variety of materials, finishing techniques, and treatments, gaining an in-depth understanding of both the possibilities and limitations for their artwork.
  • The resident will receive a fixed stipend of INR. 30,000 per month to cover his/her living expenses.
  • The resident will receive a monthly fixed remuneration of INR. 50,000 for the residency.
  • The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.

Eligibility criteria

  • The resident has to be autonomous in English.
  • Minimum of two years of experience in his/her artistic practice.

Past Laureates

Second Edition (2024 - 2025)
Elvira Voynarovska Artist