Craft changemakers reveal crucial links between craft and forest in a webinar

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Craft changemakers and speakers from the Philippines and UK present stories and findings in a Woven Networks Sharing Sessions, an online webinar on August 30 to September 2 highlighting the crucial links between craft and forest. 

The four-day webinar is free but registration is required via the British Council Philippines’ webpage. It will be via Zoom from 4.00–5.30 p.m. (PH) / 9.00–10.30 a.m. (UK).  Woven Networks is a research grant programme aiming to grow forest resources and livelihood by strengthening the role of artisans in sustainable development.

“Through Woven Networks, we wanted to highlight the importance of craft in responding to global challenges, such as climate change and social inclusion. The interdependence between livelihood, forests and culture is not always understood,” Malaya del Rosario, Head of Arts at the British Council said.

Del Rosario bared that this webinar is in partnership with the Forest Foundation.  The British Council awarded grants to trusted intermediaries like designers, academics and development experts. “We were able to map fifteen craft communities in the Philippines, from weaving cooperatives in Isabela to the indigenous Higaonon weavers in Bukidnon,” she added.

The grantees also involved artisans, foresters and UK-based counterparts in their projects.  As cited in a 2019 British Council report, international exchange and cross-sectoral collaboration are key in solving complex problems, she shared.

According to the United Nations, there are around 60 million indigenous people who rely on the forest for their livelihood.  In the Philippines, many of them are women artisans and weavers who greatly depend on non-timber forest products like rattan, abaca, raffia, or pandan, turning them into clothing, baskets and other objects.

However, mass production of craft products has led to overexploitation of forest resources, unsustainable practices, and increased vulnerability to climate change. The British Council said that despite policies that support community-based forest management in the Philippines, there are still complex factors preventing indigenous peoples, particularly the women, from participating more in forest conservation.

They often face extreme marginalization and discrimination. The location of their homes, usually in remote areas, makes it difficult for them to be represented or access opportunities, it said.

Woven Networks - Craft changemakers conserving forests is a one-year partnership between the Forest Foundation and the British Council through its Crafting Futures global programme, in collaboration with the National Museum of the Philippines.

It aims to spark exciting collaborative research and development of the weaving sector in the Philippines. It supports projects that champion indigenous knowledge systems towards sustainable resource management and improved livelihood of craft communities.

A notable finding by grantee, Carmen Roceli Lopez, is that in Samar and Leyte, only four per cent of mat weavers are aged 15-24 while 50 per cent are 65-74 years old. The small number of young, culture bearers is alarming for a disaster-prone region that is highly dependent on traditional mat weaving for their livelihood.

Lopez’s research cites recommendations on what can be done. Representatives from Panublix Social Enterprise, University of Santo Tomas and the Royal College of Art in London, among many others are also speaking at the event.

“The results of the research grants are just eye-opening. You need to attend the sharing sessions to truly appreciate the wealth of knowledge that has been gathered,” del Rosario said.

The webinar will culminate on September 2 with the launch of the virtual exhibition, from land to loom, from fibre to form: Woven Networks research projects, curated by Tessa Maria Guazon.  It will celebrate programme highlights and feature objects from the National Museum of Anthropology collection.

The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. (Photos: British Council/Google Images)