Chandigarh, Feb 9 : In a significant step towards placing Indian craftsmanship within a global contemporary dialogue, JSW Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the diversified JSW Group has announced its collaboration with Homo Faber 2026, the internationally acclaimed cultural movement supporting creative artisans worldwide presented by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship.
Through this collaboration, JSW Foundation will support the participation of Indian artisans at the fourth edition of the Homo Faber Biennial, to be held from 1 to 30 September 2026 at the historic Fondazione Giorgio Cini on San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice. The biennial brings together exceptional artisans from across the world, spotlighting craftsmanship as a living, evolving creative practice.
Curated under the theme “Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light,” the upcoming edition will feature works by hundreds of artisans whose practices span materials, techniques and cultural contexts. By becoming a Homo Faber Guardian of Creativity and Craftsmanship, JSW Foundation will enable Indian artisans to participate in this global platform, offering them international visibility and meaningful engagement beyond traditional narratives of craft.
The collaboration was announced at the India Art Fair on 5 February, in the presence of Tarini Jindal Handa and Sangita Jindal, reaffirming JSW Foundation’s commitment to championing craft traditions from India and South Asia on a global stage.
Speaking on the collaboration, Sangita Jindal, Chairperson, JSW Foundation, said,
“We are proud that JSW Foundation will participate in Homo Faber in Venice in September 2026, creating an international stage where Indian master artisans engage with global audiences, not as representatives of folklore, but as peers in a shared creative language.”
Sangita Jindal has been instrumental in building capacity for artisans through her leadership at JSW Foundation, creating opportunities through skill development, design collaborations, market access and global platforms. Her efforts have focused on preserving traditional crafts while positioning artisans as contemporary creators, strengthening livelihoods and elevating Indian craftsmanship on the international platforms.
“Homo Faber 2026 will be dedicated to craft artists from all over the world, whose outstanding artworks will contribute to the narrative that Artistic Director Es Devlin is creating,”
Alberto Cavalli, Executive Director of the Michelangelo Foundation.
“Our partnership with JSW Foundation is allowing us to give space, attention and relevance to a meaningful selection of gifted artisans from India whose work represents the authenticity, beauty and sophistication of contemporary Indian artisanship. Their participation will help these artisans gain reputation, visibility and hope – the same hope we share: that beauty, crafted by humans for humans, will always be the universal language that nourishes our community.”
With this collaboration, JSW Foundation reinforces its long-standing commitment to preserving and advancing India’s craft traditions, while repositioning Indian artisans within a global contemporary framework, one that recognises craftsmanship not as heritage alone, but as a vital and forward-looking creative force.