Offering a unique and refreshing cultural breathing space to residents of the capital, Dhaka Makers raised the curtain on its inaugural event HSBC presents Dhaka Makers’ Week at the city’s Aloki Convention Center in Tejgaon.

The initiators of the event, collectively known as the Dhaka Makers - emerged with a vision to help the creative communities of Dhaka through a one-of-a-kind arts and crafts festival that would provide an opportunity for independent creators to establish their brands, collaborate with fellow artists, and share their expertise with a wide array of audiences.

The inauguration ceremony was held on the first day, initiated by the team which comprises creative inspired artists and doers - Fahd Sattar, Istela Imam, Maruful Hoque, Fairose Yasmin, Maleena Gomez, Tahsin N Choudhury, Mahenaz Chowdhury, Umaila Akhter, Zafir Huq, Taiara Farhana Tareque, and Mariha Q Chowdhury.

Anusheh Anadil and Durjoy Rahman were guests of honour at the inauguration ceremony. After their speeches, the ceremony was followed by a live performance by Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay.

Through the first-ever Dhaka Makers’ Week, the team took their first step in fostering the local arts and culture scene through an offline platform that engages artists from all creative spheres.

Their objective was to create a vibrant and inclusive environment that celebrates the city’s innovative talent through thoughtfully curated spaces – where the “Makers” or collective artisans were able to exhibit their work, sell their products, and conduct interactive workshops.

From young children and adults to senior citizens, a great number of visitors joined the four-day festivity to get a glimpse into the art scene of Dhaka. The venue has been filled with a total of a hundred artists-turned-entrepreneurs and was provided with the opportunity to showcase and sell their work - the first time for many.

“This is really an exciting opportunity to not only showcase our crafts to the crowd who truly understand our aesthetics but also to make connections through our arts and crafts,” said Farzana Ahmed Urmi, owner of clothing brand Kanchpoka which grabbed the attention of many visitors. Kanchpoka’s every design is single-piece made which makes the products even more unique.

“We use natural dye in our clothes and other natural elements instead of chemicals and unhygienic colours,” she told UNB about her crafts and products.

Dhaka Makers’ Week has ensured visibility for these artists and their brands throughout the event, with the aim of providing an avenue for sustainable business practices.

The lineup consisted of many creative minds who exhibited their works of art, illustrations, animations, sculpture, pottery, metal craft, ceramics, fashion apparel, jewellery, embroidery, woodcraft, homeware, terrariums, photography, and so on. Professionals conducted workshops that allowed visitors to gain hands-on experience in different Bangladeshi art forms.

The skills taught in these workshops ranged from Bangla typography, block printing, graffiti, stop-motion animation, yoga, culinary arts, jewellery-making and so much more. Furthermore, the festivities were accompanied by live musical performances in the evenings by Kaaktaal and Hatirpool Sessions, and a variety of delicacies offered by up-and-coming culinary establishments.

 “In this megacity where people have very few recreational spaces, I think this is a great initiative,” Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury told UNB. “Under a single roof, you are getting an amazing range of handicrafts, artworks, music, delicacies and an opportunity to enjoy the presence of an understanding crowd, and we need these kinds of events more frequently in the city.”

The goal of Dhaka Makers’ Week was to evoke a sense of belonging in people who already recognise the importance of preserving Bangladeshi art and heritage, and are environmentally conscious, alongside inspiring festival-goers to explore their artistic potential while supporting local creators, according to the organizers.

It will welcome the festival-goers on Tuesday from 10 am to 10 pm.