Future Planning
🌿 Growth and Journey (1980–2025)
- Over its 40-year journey up to 2025, the Bankura Traditional Art Center has become a vital institution for preserving and promoting the traditional arts of Bankura. Under the dedicated mentorship of Master Craftsman and Artist Hiralal Karmakar, the center has trained more than 300 artists, including both men and women, in diverse art forms such as stone carving, terracotta, woodwork, and painting.
- Through continuous training, exhibitions, and community engagement, the Center has not only nurtured new generations of skilled artisans but has also strengthened the cultural and economic fabric of the region. Many of its students have gone on to become award-winning artists, spreading the legacy of Bankura’s traditional art across India and beyond.
🌺 The Next Generation: Continuing the Legacy
- With the blessings and inspiration of Hiralal Karmakar, the next generation of his family continues to walk the same artistic path. His son, Malay Karmakar, after completing his education, chose to follow in his father’s footsteps — dedicating himself to preserving and advancing their home-grown traditional legacy of sculpture and fine art.
- In the year 2008–2009, Artist Malay Karmakar received the State Award (First Position in Stone Carving) from the Government of West Bengal. The honor was presented by Mr. Anisur Rahman Sarkar and Mr. Mohammed Salim, recognizing his exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to Bengal’s traditional art heritage.
- Today, under the combined guidance of Master Craftsman Hiralal Karmakar and Artist Malay Karmakar, the Bankura Traditional Art Center continues to flourish — blending tradition with innovation and nurturing the next generation of artists.
Services
🛕 Artistic Production and Craftsmanship
The Bankura Traditional Art Center is not only a place of learning and creativity but also a center for manufacturing high-quality artistic products. The Center produces a wide range of handcrafted artworks made from wood, stone, clay, and other traditional materials.
Each piece is created by highly skilled and experienced artisans, who combine their long-standing traditional knowledge with refined craftsmanship. From intricate stone carvings to elegant wooden sculptures, every creation reflects the rich cultural heritage of Bankura and the artistic excellence nurtured under the guidance of Master Craftsman Hiralal Karmakar and Artist Malay Karmakar.
Through its artistic production, the Center not only sustains local craftsmanship but also promotes Bankura’s traditional art across India and abroad.
🌳 Materials and Artistic Philosophy
All products created at the Bankura Traditional Art Center are made from genuine, high-quality raw materials. We primarily use ‘Earleaf Acacia’ (locally known as Akashmoni or Auri) wood and ‘Teak’ (Sagwan) wood, both renowned for their strength, durability, and fine texture—making them ideal for detailed carving and long-lasting artwork.
Our creations reflect two essential aspects of art — Fine Art and Functional Art. While Fine Art captures aesthetic beauty and emotion, Functional Art brings artistic elegance into the objects we use in daily life.
Every wooden statue, idol, or handcrafted object produced at the Center is entirely handmade, not machine-made. This dedication to manual craftsmanship ensures that each piece carries the personal touch, soul, and tradition of the artisan — a living expression of Bankura’s timeless heritage.
