Sanskriti Foundation organized an International Basketry Workshop sponsored by the Office The Development Commissioner, Handicrafts, Government of India.

The workshop was unique - for the first time four basket makers one each from Botswana, India, Japan and Scotland came together to exhibit their baskets which had a distinct style.Six Indian artisans who were traditional basket weavers were part of this workshop.

The workshop offered an opportunity for exchange of techniques, styles of basket making and to provide styles and exposure to use a variety of sustainable materials.

In 2006 Mexico celebrated the 600th anniversary of the birth of “Tlatoani”, a great Monarch and poet. Keeping in with these festivities the Mexican embassy in New Delhi came in collaboration with Sanskriti Foundation to invite the Iconic and much-celebrated artist from Mexico Rev. Maestro Felipe Erhenberg, who agreed to come to India and not only put up an “OFFERANDA” but in order to pass

on the cultural similarities between the two countries, to a new generation, held a workshop over eight days with the students from College of Art, New Delhi.

These students 25 in number worked with the Maestro from 10am in the morning to late evenings, preparing the Offeranda & experiencing the mystique powers. It was finally put up on November 02, 2006 and opened to people from all walks of life to come and experience the cultural similarities from two different corners of the world, notwithstanding the geographical boundaries or differences in time. It was indeed an honour and a unique experience.

It was for the first time ever, Rafoogars of India, who are specialists in Textile restoration and conservation were brought together to demonstrate their work and interact with each other. The Sanskriti Foundation in collaboration with INTACH, Indian Council of Conservation Institutes, New Delhi organized this unique workshop.

Rafoogars who independently practice the darning traditions in India along with modern restoration practitioners from various institutions were invited. There were dyers of natural dyes and a team who specialized in mounting and displaying exhibits in the Museums.
The workshop was a one of a kind experiment to recognize the skills and methods of darning as a versatile and holistic traditional practice and inculcate the awareness of contemporary conservation issues in the maintenance of rare and precious textiles.
Objectives
• Highlight Rafoogari, the traditional practice of darning in India in the context of maintenance and preservation of historic textiles
• Bring together darners to share and exchange different techniques, materials and methodologies
• Inculcate awareness among darners about issues of conservation and restoration in the context of use of appropriate materials and methods

Sanskriti Foundation and Karukkul Foundation jointly organized an international jewellery design workshop and prototype development programme which was sponsored by the Office The Development Commissioner, Handicrafts, Government of India. The workshop which was led by both Indian designers from Rajasthan, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi and designers from Japan, Cambodia, United Kingdom.

An International residential ceramic workshop was organized at Sanskriti in collaboration with the Delhi Blue Pottery Trust between the 5th to the 20th February 2009. There were 15 residential participants besides a group of day participants.

The residential workshop involved an exchange of skills by bringing together potters from different working environments, cultures and traditions, to pay tribute to clay - a timeless natural material which continues to be a source of inspiration for potters around the world. An installation was created at Sanskriti to mark the occasion. The international participants were from Australia, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK and the US.

The workshop culminated with an exhibition titled ‘MAATI’ at the India Habitat Centre on 21st February, 2009 in which 102 practitioners displayed their creations. A publication also titled MAATI was brought out on this occasion.

During 2008 and 2009 Sanskriti was the consecutive venue partner for India’s first ever Children’s Literary Festival: “Bookaroo!”. Despite the fact that children’s books are the fastest-growing segment of the publishing industry, there had been no festival devoted to bringing together books, children, authors and illustrators until then.

Unlike book fairs, where the emphasis is clearly on selling, the Bookaroo! festival was a place where the imagination could take flight. It was not just about buying books, but rather hearing and seeing how they come alive.

With internationally renowned children’s writers and illustrators, puppet shows, dramatic reading, and interactive workshops, children were inspired to read, draw, watch, question, imagine…to discover new worlds, and rediscover beloved classics.

Bookaroo! featured amongst others programmes:
• Conversation with Jeff Smith, author of the bestselling Bone series of graphic novels
• How to make a comic with Subhadra Sen Gupta
• The Glum Peacock (Young Zubaan) Story telling with Tabish Khair
• Teddybear’s picnic with Jerry Pinto (author of A Bear for Felicia, Puffin)
• Inky fingers: screen printing workshop with Tara Books
• Rhyme Time! Poetry with Anushka Ravishankar
• Dinomania: Make your own Bookasaurus rex with Dorling Kindersley
• Graffiti wall - draw your favorite characters! Express yourself!
• Best of British children’s illustrations exhibition - Magic Pencil
• Nonsense Workshop with Sampurna Chatterji
• A tete-a-tete with Dr. Seuss’ Cat In the Hat
• A panel discussion with Wendy Cooling, Paro Anand and Ranjit