Expression of Interest (EOI) for Design Institutions, Colleges, Agencies and NGOs

Issued By: Empowering Women to Preserve Art (EWPA)

An initiative by BharatCares

Introduction

India's traditional craft sector sits at a rare intersection — centuries of inherited skill on one side, and a rapidly growing market for authentic, sustainable, handmade products on the other. Yet the bridge between the two remains fragile. Artisan communities, particularly women potters, possess deep technical knowledge and cultural heritage, but often lack access to contemporary design thinking, market-oriented product development, and institutional partnerships that can elevate their craft from subsistence to enterprise.

EWPA is a women-led cooperative enterprise built around the traditional pottery community of Kumhar Gram, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi — home to over 800 families of Kumhar potters who have practiced terracotta craft for generations. Supported by BharatCares (SMEC Trust), the initiative is working to transform this community into a thriving, market-linked, women-owned enterprise — while preserving one of India's most endangered craft traditions.

To deepen the impact of this work, we now invite Expressions of Interest from design institutions, colleges, creative agencies, and NGOs working in the craft, design, and artisan development space to collaborate with us. We believe that meaningful design intervention — grounded in community reality and market intelligence — can be the single most transformative lever for the Terracotta Tales cooperative. If your institution or Organisation shares this belief, this EOI is for you.

About the Project

EWPA is a women-led cooperative enterprise implemented by BharatCares at Kumhar Gram, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi.

The initiative is built on five pillars:

• Skill Development — Training 100 women artisans in modern pottery techniques, quality standards, financial literacy, and digital skills
• Mechanization — Introduction of clay sieving and kneading machines to reduce physical drudgery and increase productivity
• Cooperative Formation — Establishing a formally registered women-led cooperative that gives artisans collective ownership over production, pricing, and market access
• Branding & Market Linkage — Building the Terracotta Tales brand with a product catalogue, packaging, e-commerce presence, and corporate gifting partnerships
• Design & Product Development — Creating market-ready, design-forward terracotta products that appeal to urban consumers, institutional buyers, and the sustainability-conscious gifting market

The project aims to train 100 women artisans working out of a shared Training & Enterprise Centre in Kumhar Gram. Products include terracotta utility items, home décor, gift sets, tiles, planters, bird houses, and customized pieces — all handmade, biodegradable, and rooted in a 400-year-old craft tradition.

Why We Are Issuing This EOI

The EWPA project has strong craft foundations but recognizes that design is the bridge between tradition and market. We are seeking partners who can bring structured design thinking, aesthetic development, and market intelligence to the cooperative — without disrupting the authenticity and cultural rootedness of the craft.

Specifically, we are looking for partners who can contribute to one or more of the following:

• Product Design & Diversification — Developing new product lines suited to urban retail, corporate gifting, tourism, and export markets while staying true to the terracotta medium and artisan skill base.
• Brand & Visual Identity — Strengthening the visual language, packaging design, and artisan storytelling aesthetic.
• Design Research — Conducting market research, trend analysis, and consumer behavior studies to inform product development and pricing strategy.
• Craft Documentation — Documenting the process, history, and artisan narratives of Kumhar Gram for archival, educational, and marketing purposes
• Capacity Building — Delivering design-oriented workshops and exposure visits for artisans to build their design vocabulary and market awareness
• Community Engagement — Bringing student or volunteer design resources into the cooperative in a structured, community-sensitive manner

Objectives of the EOI

• Identify and onboard design institutions, colleges, agencies, and NGOs as formal collaboration partners for the project.
• Co-develop a design intervention roadmap that is community-rooted, market-oriented, and culturally sensitive.
• Build a sustained, long-term design partnership — not a one-time workshop or project — that grows with the cooperative.
• Create opportunities for students, designers, and researchers to engage with a live artisan enterprise and contribute meaningfully to its growth.
• Strengthen the product range, brand identity, and market positioning through professional design input.

Who Can Apply

Design Institutions & Colleges:

• National Institute of Design (NID) and its campuses
• NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) Delhi and other campuses
• Schools of Design, Architecture, or Fine Arts at central and state universities
• Private design colleges and institutes with craft, product design, or visual communication programmes
• Institutions with active community design or social design programmes

Creative Agencies & Design Studios:

• Product design studios with experience in craft or artisan sector
• Branding and packaging agencies with a social enterprise or sustainability focus
• Graphic design and visual communication firms interested in purpose-led projects
• Photography and storytelling studios with craft documentation experience

NGOs & Development Organisations:

• NGOs working in craft development, artisan livelihoods, or women's economic empowerment
• Organisations with existing artisan networks, design intervention models, or craft market linkage experience
• Development organisations with expertise in cooperative governance, enterprise development, or rural market access
• Foundations or trusts working at the intersection of culture, craft, and sustainability

Eligibility Criteria

Mandatory:

• Must be a formally registered institution, organisation, studio, or agency
• Must have demonstrated prior work in design, craft, artisan development, or a closely related field
• Must be willing to engage in a structured, time-bound collaboration with defined deliverables
• Must be committed to a community-first, artisan-centred approach — where the cooperative's needs and ownership are always prioritised over institutional or commercial interests

Preferred:

• Prior experience working with artisan communities, SHGs, cooperatives, or rural women's groups
• Presence or operational capacity in Delhi NCR for on-ground engagement
• Institutions or organisations with student or volunteer design resources that can be deployed at the cooperative level
• Experience in sustainable materials, eco-friendly packaging, or terracotta/ceramics design is a strong advantage
• Willingness to contribute pro-bono or at subsidized rates as part of a CSR or social impact mandate

What We Offer Collaborating Partners

• Access to a Live Artisan Enterprise — Kumhar Gram is a rare, active craft ecosystem with over 800 potter families and 100 trained cooperative members — a rich, real-world design context
• Community Immersion — Opportunity to work directly with women artisans, understand the terracotta craft process from raw clay to finished product, and co-create with genuine practitioners
• Institutional Visibility — Partner institutions and organizations will be credited in all Terracotta Tales communications, product packaging, exhibition materials, and CSR reports
• CSR & Social Impact Documentation — Detailed impact documentation for agencies and institutions seeking to demonstrate social impact outcomes
• Network Access — Connection to the BharatCares ecosystem including other NGOs, CSR partners, craft networks, and market linkages
• Co-creation Opportunity — A genuine seat at the table in building a cooperative enterprise from the ground up — with your design input directly shaping the product and brand.

Process & Next Steps

Step 1 — EOI Submission
Interested institutions, agencies, or organisations submit a short EOI response covering their profile, area of interest, prior relevant work, and proposed collaboration model.

Step 2 — Review & Shortlisting
The BharatCares project team reviews all EOIs and shortlists partners based on relevance, capacity, and alignment with the cooperative's current needs. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted within 3 weeks of submission.

Step 3 — Discovery Conversation
A structured conversation between the shortlisted partner and the BharatCares team — and where possible, a visit to Kumhar Gram — to understand the community context and co-develop the collaboration scope.

Step 4 — Collaboration Agreement
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or collaboration agreement is signed, defining the scope, timeline, deliverables, and terms of the partnership.

Step 5 — On-ground Engagement
The collaboration begins — with the partner engaging directly with the Terracotta Tales cooperative, the BharatCares programme team.

Documents to Be Submitted with EOI

• Brief institutional or organizational profile (2–3 pages or equivalent)
• Portfolio or work samples demonstrating relevant prior work in design, craft, or community development
• Proposed area and model of collaboration (as described in the Areas of Collaboration section)
• Names and profiles of key personnel or faculty who would be involved
• Any prior work with artisan communities, cooperatives, or rural women's groups — with references if available

For Queries & Submission

We welcome conversations before EOI submission — if you would like to visit Kumhar Gram, meet the artisans, or understand the project context better before applying, please reach out.

Dimple Adhikari- dimple.a@csrbox.org

Palak Srivastava- palak.s@bharatcares.org

Please fill out the following google form to Express Your Interest:  EOI invited from Design Institutions, Colleges, Agencies and NGOs