West Bengal is a culturally rich state with a diverse array of built heritage, and a wealth of intangible cultural heritage. Creative Bengal takes readers on a visual journey of West Bengal’s cultural fabric, while bearing in-depth reference to the diverse handicraft, handloom and performing art traditions innate to the state.

It showcases some of West Bengal’s most notable forms of intangible cultural heritage, linking each to its geographic context and history, as well as highlighting the creative journey of the cultural practitioners and the evolution of their crafts.

Intangible cultural heritage is integral in providing individuals and communities with a sense of identity, and in promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

The importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage is the cornerstone of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In the 21st century, living heritage is also a potent tool for sustainable development and can contribute to quality education, economic growth, sustainable cities, and sustainable consumption and production. In 2013, recognising the potential of living heritage in driving sustainable development, UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office and the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles (MSME&T), Government of West Bengal joined hands to implement the Rural Craft and Cultural Hubs (RCCH) project across West Bengal. The project works with folk artists and craftspeople in villages across 20 districts of the state, with a strong focus on the creation of sustained green livelihoods in these clusters.

Through its initiatives, the RCCH project addresses the need for safeguarding West Bengal’s intangible cultural heritage, skill and knowledge transmission to future generations, environmental sustainability, and sustainable commercialization. It is also strongly aligned with and contributes to the UNESCO 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development, with regard to several key Sustainable Development Goals including ending poverty, gender equality, inclusive economic growth and decent work for all including women and youth.

This document has been developed by the project’s implementing partners to celebrate the vibrant repertoire of traditional crafts and performing arts that are a part of this project. It provides a visual insight into the wide-ranging forms of living heritage that are practiced by the local practitioners, and bears testimony to the sheer wealth of Bengal’s traditional cultural forms.

On the tenth anniversary of the RCCH project, UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office is very pleased to witness the launch of Creative Bengal, which we hope will bring wider visibility to this unique project. We are very optimistic that this catalogue will be widely consulted and will help to reinforce the significance of West Bengal’s cultural traditions in contemporary times.