Skill Training for Local Artists in India | Global

Background

Bihar, a state located in northeastern India, is one of the poorest states in the country, with more than 40 per cent of the population living below the poverty line.
In the Madhubani district of the Mithila region of Bihar State, women traditionally create and sell Madhubani or Mithila paintings, which are classified as one of the many famous Indian art forms. However, due to a lack of design and technical skills as well as marketing know-how, many of these women find it difficult to earn an income that provides an adequate standard of living. Consequently, Ricoh has set up a program up to support these artists and help improve their lives.

Purpose

The program is designed to help local female artists acquire the skills to improve their incomes and livelihoods. Also, through StareReap^*1, which is Ricoh's art platform, Ricoh will provide support for the artists to create new works of art.

Moreover, we will support exhibitions and PR activities in Europe, where there is a great interest in ethnic art, to raise awareness of its unique 3-D representation method (2.5D) in the European art market.

Bihar

Examples of Madhubani Art

StareReap uses Ricoh's unique inkjet technology to create a new creative culture by creating original art in collaboration with artists.

Training Contents

Since FY2020, Ricoh has been implementing the following training programs in collaboration with DRISHTEE, a social enterprise/NGO in India that aims to improve incomes in rural areas of India through technical training and value chain building.

Art Course: Conducted in Madhubani in Bihar

Basic Level (1 month)

Learn about basic of art.

Advance Level (3 months)

Learn design techniques mainly using digital devices.

Textile Course: Conducted in Bhagalpur in Bihar

Basic Level (1 month)

Learn about basic of textile.

Advance Level (3 months)

Learn digital techniques mainly using digital devices.

Since fiscal 2020, the Ricoh Group has positioned “Inclusion at Work” as one of its focused areas of social contribution activities and the Group supports the work of a diverse range of people, such as the disabled, homeless, immigrants, refugees, and single mothers.
This program also aims to achieve business for inclusive growth (B4IG) ^*2, in which Ricoh has participated since 2019. Through this program, we will contribute to eliminating disparities by using digital technology to create a society in which “no one will be left behind” the SDGs.

Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) was launched at the G7 Biarritz Summit in August 2019. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is the supervisory body and currently comprises about 40 companies, mainly in Europe and the U.S.