"One who works with their hands is a labourer.
One who works with their hands and head is a craftsperson. One who works with their hands, head and heart is an artist."
At Dularia, we believe that making and contemplating things of beauty and harmony brings out the innate beauty and harmony of the human spirit. If you have been dreaming of making beautiful things out of real wood, and are committed to making serious progress in your woodworking journey, this residency may be just right for you! ​In this residency, we will transmit the craft of woodworking in an immersive, traditional apprentice model, where you’ll learn at your own pace under the guidance of your teacher, while immersing in the vibrant natural surroundings and tribal village culture of Dularia, located just few kilometers away from the UNESCO world heritage site, Shantiniketan.
THIS RESIDENCY IS RIGHT FOR YOU IF...
YOU LOVE BUILDING WITH WOOD AND WANT TO BE EMPOWERED TO DO YOUR OWN SIMPLE FIXES
You love the look and smell of real wood and have been dreaming of becoming confident and skilled in working with it yourself. You wish you could make small repairs on wooden objects around the house, or make your own furniture, but don’t know where to start. You may not have any prior woodworking skills, but you love to work with your hands, and want to invest some time in an intensive period of bringing your dream closer to fulfilment.
YOU APPRECIATE TRADITIONAL IMMERSIVE LEARNING AND SKILLFUL ARTISANSHIP
You wish to imbibe much more than an array of techniques and methods. The traditional craftsperson was at once artist, designer, engineer, dreamer, and philosopher, and the apprentice would slowly imbibe elements of all of these through patient and persistent observation and engagement. The Dularia Woodworking Residency aims to reproduce the spirit of the traditional apprenticeship in a condensed form, and you are keen and committed to learn in such an environment.
YOU LOVE SPENDING TIME IN NATURE & LEARNING FROM INDIGENOUS CULTURES
You like being in the midst of nature and will enjoy staying on a small organic farm, harvesting your own food, sitting by the fire under the stars, or immersing with the local Santhal tribal community and their nature-connected culture.
YOUR FACILITATORS
COMPONENTS OF THIS RESIDENCY
The learning program will be custom-designed to your needs, interests, capabilities, and duration of residency.
WOODWORKING BASICS
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The way wood works: the why, which, and how of wood.
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Overview of the tradition, its methods and tools.
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Introduction to the basic tools. How they work (and how they don’t). How to choose the right tool for the job. The buying, storing, and maintenance of tools. When to consider the judicious use of power tools (and how to avoid them in almost all cases).
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Safety. The art of mindfulness amidst a room full of sharp blades.
SETTING UP A WORKSPACE
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There are as many workshops as there are people who need them. We can help you think about how to design, fit out, and customise a workspace to suit your own unique needs.
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We can introduce you to historical approaches and creative possibilities, Including working with limited space and/or tool resources, and how to curate a flexible and portable kit if you don’t have permanent access to a space or need to take your kit on the road.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
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Even a complete beginner can make beautiful and useful objects. Projects at this level may include; customised chopping boards, carved spoons, trays, or bowls, simple tables and chairs, stools and boxes, simple shelves including wall- bedside- or book-shelves.
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Subsequent learning. A competent amateur can build nearly a house full of furniture using just the staked mortise and tenon joint, the rebate and dado joints, and a hammer and nails, and even an absolute beginner, assuming a good dose of attentive practise and perseverance in the intervening year, could consider the possibility of making chairs, tables, beds, cupboards, and complex boxes including a custom-made tool chest by the second year.
OPTIONAL IMMERSION IN DULARIA'S FARM ACTIVITIES & INDIGENOUS CULTURE
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Participation in daily farm activities such as gardening, mud-plastering, and natural building.
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Interactions with our tribal village team and enjoying their local cuisine.
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Village walks and exposure to Santhali art and culture.
FOOD & ACCOMMODATION
We have three options for accommodation.
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​In our gorgeous Earthhome (limited to four people on a first-come, first serve basis).
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in your own tent with own bedding pitched in the middle of our food forest. Shared showers and toilets are available on the premises.
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In any of the surrounding guest-houses. Two options are Panchabati Resort ( 850 m away from Dularia) or Khoai Village Resort (2.7 km away from Dularia).
Meals consist of simple yet wholesome vegetarian food containing fresh vegetables and greens harvested from our farm, and often cooked on our wood-fired stove in the Santal tribal tradition. We serve two big meals plus fruit, tea and snacks to keep you well-fed and energized for the tasks of the day.
DETAILS
DATES
Feb 15 - Mar 15, 2025
You can flexibly select your residency period within the above dates. Minimum length of residency is two weeks. You'll discuss the time period and your learning objectives with your teacher before you join.
PARTICIPANTS
Max 2 at a time
We choose to accommodate only two people at a time, so that each person gets a customised learning experience, so please book well in advance.
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FEES
Tuition fees: INR 3,000/- per day per person, excluding food & accommodation, as well as materials you'll need to make items to take away with you. To book your spot, a non-refundable deposit of INR 5,000/- will be required.
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Food: INR 900/- per day per person
Includes all meals. Vegetarian meals using local tribal and Bengali recipes will be prepared using organic ingredients from the farm. Non-veg items can be requested for additional price.
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Accommodation options:
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In your own tent with own bedding: 200/- per day per person.
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In our Earthhome: book on Airbnb and request 30% discount.
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In nearby homestays- please check with them for prices.
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DAILY SCHEDULE
The following is a guide only, to be adjusted to individual requirements.
7:00 - 8:00: Yoga and meditation either self-practice or guided by Sharmishtha (optional at no extra charge)
8:00 - 8:30: Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00: First session.
10:30 - 11:00: Morning tea.​
11:00 - 12:30: Second session.
13:00 - 18:00: Afternoon self-practice and optional immersion in Dularia's farming, village or cultural surroundings
18:00 - 18:30: Dinner
Evening: Free time. Often we light a bon-fire under the stars.
WHERE WE'RE LOCATED
Dularia is located in a rural setting, just ten kilometers away from Shantiniketan, which has been recently recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site for its historical and cultural value. This makes it all the more attractive to visit Dularia and to take a few days extra to visit the surroundings.
HOW TO REACH US
The closest train stations to Dularia are Prantik and Bolpur stations, and the closest airport is Durgapur.
If you want to come by flight, you could fly into Kolkata airport, followed by either a train journey from Howrah/ Sealdah stations to Bolpur/Prantik stations, or take a 4-hour taxi ride directly to Dularia. Alternately, you could fly into Durgapur airport, followed by a 2-hour taxi ride to Dularia. Kolkata has several more flight options than Durgapur does, so both airports have their advantages/disadvantages.
If you want to arrive by train, you can come to Bolpur/Prantik stations, and then take an electric rickshaw (Toto) to Dularia. There are better and faster train connections to Durgapur train
Have questions? Contact Us
Contact Chris Sprague (WhatsApp): +91-7807963061, email: emailchrissprague@gmail.com
