Revitalising Kashmir's saqafati canvas: empowement of inland artisans through an art neighbourhood in Srinagar.

Abstract

Srinagar, Kashmir titled as Heaven on Earth a winter wonderland is always associated with local arts and crafts and its blanket of snow making it a city that is famous for its Art and is Artitself. It has been a centre for Art, Music, Literature, Architecture, and historic landscapes since ancient times Lal Chowk, Dal Lake and Jhelam cuddle the old city area where majority of local art practices are carried out and are a traditional family practice passed down generation after generation with care and compassion. The culture of the city ie. the tehzeeb of the people and the love they have for these art forms is heartwarming and commendable. Srinagar being the Summer capital of Kashmir becomes a humble abode to tourists as well who become mesmerised with these local arts and the culture the people practise here. The The string of artistic and cultural jewels in this oasis had various beads like Pashmina, Crewel, Kani, Woodwork, Papier Mache, Pottery, Carpet making, Brasswork along with Sufism and Literature. All these arts do not live in isolation but rather come together in a homogeneous cultural synthesis that has become the character of Srinagar's picturesque landscape. Bemina Region is in the heart of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir just about 4 km from Lal Chowk. It lies in the Batamaloo Assembly Constituency, Batamaloo assembly segment of the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. The project is an Art Neighbourhood in Bemina, in Srinagar. The city’s tourism potential is yet to be exploited with only a single corridor being in the list of tourist products in Srinagar. IT has a museum, art galleries, OAT, indoor Auditorium, Collaborative Hub, Co working spaces, Recreational Spaces, Artist Residencies, Arts Foundation etc. The unique feature of the project is its Art galleries where fusion of local arts create wnew and unique products which woul always invite tourists with digital art parks that are a new concept in india where yo could interact with art through your senses ie. youch, feel, smell, sound, through scanners and detectors All these features included in local context with local architectural style create a cultural Oasis that would be a once stop destination for tourists in Srinagar.