Sanatkada is an entrepreneurial initiative to bring traditional crafts and textiles of this country to the people of Lucknow and to those who are visiting the city – both domestic and international tourists. Lucknow, a city known for its culture, art and diversity, where the present still nestles in the ambience of the past. Today a modern vibrant city whose people are known to appreciate and savour good food, language, craft, weaves and “Nawabi Adda”. For the people of Lucknow, it is a city that inspires romance, nostalgia and passion. Yet, both the tourism and market potential of the city for visitors as well as for its own people has never fully been realised. The idea of having such a space in Lucknow is how we started Sanatkada (Sanat - Craft and Kada - Ghar) in 2006. Sanatkada is an entrepreneurial initiative to bring traditional crafts and textiles of this country to the people of Lucknow and to those who are visiting the city – both domestic and international tourists. The shop is located in a 1950's house in Qaiserbagh, in the heart of the city, one of the city’s most beautiful and historical zones. Sanatkada ka Adda is also a space for the demonstration of crafts, music, tehzeeb yafta, and food. Committed to revival and restoration of the traditional crafts from their area, the groups whose products Sanatkada markets in Lucknow have been weaving traditional skills in contemporary designs to cater to demands of the present day markets. The groups too were looking at newer markets, beyond the main metropolitan cities, and Sanatkada has attempted to open up the same, by exposing the Lucknow consumer to handmade products. Sanatkada was founded by Madhavi Kuckreja a Development Livelihood Professional and Human Rights activist who has worked for the last sixteen years for the rights of rural women in Lucknow and the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and is now running Sanatkada for the promotion of art craft and culture in Lucknow.
