The independent arts and crafts festival Dhaka Makers, a unique platform for local and contemporary artists and artisans, is returning with its third edition.
It will be held from January 30 to February 3 at the Aloki Convention Centre, Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road, in Dhaka.
Building on the momentum of its first two editions, Dhaka Makers 3 promises to transform the city’s creative landscape with fresh ideas, innovative showcases, and stronger connections between creators and the community, its organisers said at a press conference on Thursday at Aloki.
The organising team members, including Aumia Khundkar, Maleena Gomez, Fahd Sattar, Istela Imam, Fairose Yasmin, Mahenaz Chowdhury, Maruful Hoque, and Tasnia Tanjim Hasan, and
Sabit Shahriar described the event in detail at the press conference.
With over 10 heritage crafts, 80+ makers, 300+ art pieces, and 19 transformative workshops, ‘City Bank presents Dhaka Makers 3’ is poised to be an exciting event celebrating the arts and crafts, igniting creativity, fostering connections, and inspiring innovation, according to the organisers.
There will be three markets in this year’s edition: the Makers’ Market, Crafts Market, and Art Market. The Makers’ Market will feature a lineup of small, independent local brands and creative entrepreneurs, offering unique, handcrafted products such as ceramics, stationery, gift and home décor items, jewellery, accessories, and more.
Cultural show marking Chinese New Year held in Dhaka
The Craft Market, a brand-new addition to Dhaka Makers 3, will shine a spotlight on Bangladeshi traditional heritage crafts where visitors will find stunning Jamdani sarees from Sonargaon, creative bamboo home accessories from Sylhet, and beautiful Nakshi Kantha quilts from Tangail.
Live demonstrations will offer attendees the opportunity to watch these crafts come to life—from a Jamdani weaver meticulously working on their loom to a bamboo artist creating intricate designs. This space will bridge the gap between traditional techniques and modern sensibilities, offering timeless products in a contemporary context.
The art market is another new segment this year, designed to make contemporary art accessible to everyone through paintings, sketches, sculptures, photography, and prints by emerging and independent artists. Catering to both seasoned and new collectors, the Art Market will provide a welcoming space to connect with artists, learn about their creative journeys, and discover affordable original pieces.
A series of workshops will be a returning segment, like previous editions, and this year’s event will feature hands-on workshops but with a special focus on the ‘Masters of Making’—and’ these sessions will be hosted by master artisans who have spent decades perfecting their craft.
‘Nalini’: artist and printmaker Julia Lebrao Sendra’s solo exhibition begins at AFD
Attendees will learn the intricate techniques of Jamdani weaving from Sonargaon’s finest, bring stories to life through vibrant patachitra painting from Khulna, or learn to stitch detailed Nakshi Kantha embroidery from Tangail’s seasoned experts in these workshops.
In addition to these heritage workshops, modern crafts such as typography design, eco-friendly leather crafting, and storytelling will offer new inspiration for contemporary creatives. These workshops promise to preserve traditional skills while fostering innovation for the next generation of creators.
Besides all of these, this year’s edition will be displaying the work of three animation studios under its House of Animation segment, featuring Ogopogo (a stop-motion animation studio led by Amit Ashraf and Saiq’a Chowdhury), Studio Ginko (led by Sayeef Mahmud and Hamza Khan), and Team Platform (led by Shihan Zuberi). Two of these studios are presenting Bangladesh in the upcoming Annecy Animation Festival 2025 with their current projects.
Also, there will be a demonstration zone where visitors will explore creativity in action, featuring live presentations of unique techniques and artistic processes.
The activities will include recycled craft (room divider using old saree) and Alpona on Stage on January 30; body painting performance and rickshaw art on object on January 31; tapestry making performance (yantra) and folk painting on object on February 1; lathi khela and flute performance on February 2, and Shadhu Shongo on February 3.
Several renowned and emerging artists will enamour the festivalgoers across all five days with a vibrant mix of soulful melodies, dynamic performances, and diverse musical styles.
Arka Fashion Week’s third edition concludes in style
The opening day will feature Muiz Mahfuz and Krishnokoli; Day 2 will feature the bands Subconscious and Powersurge; Day 3 will feature Metrolife and Kafil Ahmed; Day 4 will be joined by Kanak Aditya from Joler Gaan and Post Office Society; and Day 5 will feature Rehman Duo.
City Bank PLC is the title partner for this event, while the Goethe Institute is the communication partner, and Buy Here Now is the experience partner. The media partners for this event are ICE Today and Haalfashion, and details regarding the workshops and entry tickets are available at www.dhakamakers.com.