India is one of the major global art & craft supplier to major countries in the world. Art connoisseurs world over go for Indian products simply because of its ethereal beauty & finesse. It has over the years contributed significantly towards employment & also has been a foreign exchequer to the country. The census conducted by the Office of the Development Commissioner states that atleast 80 lakh artisans are engaged in various branches of handicrafts in the country. As per the 1995-96 census, the total value of their production was estimated to be around Rs. 40,000 crores. Being one of the major suppliers of art & craft items to the world market despite the large production base & employing thousands of craftsmen, India's share is still negligible in the total share in world�s export share. The reason for this dismal performance in the export market is due to the stiff competition faced from the neighboring countries as in China, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. These countries are getting an edge over the Indian market apart from the tough price competition they are giving. When taking about the the current global art & craft market, then it is valued at more than US$ 400 billion whereas China accounts for 30% of the total world market. India�s share is less than 2%. In last 10 years, the average annual rate of growth of the Indian art & craft industry is mere 15% which is projected to increase by 42% during the next five years as well estimated to generate an impressive US$ 9100 million. The most preferred destination for export still remains the United States which alone accounted for 29.59% while Europe (as UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France) together accounted for 33.86% of exports from India in 2004-05

Making use of abundant materials to give shape to varied art & craft items, the artists never fell short of giving a diversified look to their final product. They generally use : Wood, Metal, Clay, PaperLeather, Beads.

There are certain vital guidelines to be followed when going for art & craft shopping spree. The consumers must keep in mind the following details :

• Must research about crafts areas in which you are interested & go for IACA's recommend books or publications.
• Always buy from reputable established dealers or from & IACA members.
• Do not go for stores with "perpetual" sales or unethical discounting.
• Cross-check the materials & the production technique.
• Go for a written description or certificate of authenticity with the final purchase.
• Maintain written records & receipts together for any further history or documentation of the file.