Srinagar is the fourth Indian city to be designated as a 'World Craft City' by the World Craft Council.
Srinagar is the fourth Indian city to be designated as a 'World Craft City' by the World Craft Council. Three years following its inclusion in the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN) for crafts and folk arts.
What is the World Craft Council?
The World Crafts Council AISBL (WCC-AISBL) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1964 to promote fellowship, foster economic development through income-generating craft-related activities, organize exchange programs, workshops, conferences, seminars, and exhibitions, and, in general, to encourage, assist, and advise craftspeople around the world. The organization is now fully registered in Belgium as an international organization, and AISBL is the French acronym for an international association with no commercial purpose.The WCC is divided into five regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The organization is linked with UNESCO.- This is expected to reestablish Kashmir's centuries-old connections with craft centers in Central Asia and Iran. The WCC executive board announced in a formal statement to J&K officials on June 24 that Srinagar had received the distinction of WCC-World Craft City from members of the Council's sub-committee following a comprehensive inspection of craft centres earlier this year.
The 4,000-year history of Kashmir
The renewed prominence for a city with over 4,000 years of documented history has focused attention on a location that has produced masterpieces in several art fields, including shawls, carpets, papier mache, and so on.When Persian and Central Asian preachers and artists arrived in the 14th century, the craft sector underwent a significant transformation.- Saleem Beg, chairman of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage-Kashmir (INTACH-K), termed the global craft city designation as "the most recent recognition of Kashmir's skill base."
The Council serves as a modern tool and channel for highlighting areas that have been involved in innovation and aesthetics for millennia. This would strengthen Kashmir's ancient ties with Central Asia and Iran. The Council has designated 14 Iranian cities as craft cities, and Srinagar's participation would facilitate knowledge sharing. The previous century saw Kashmir's old routes gradually closing down.The WCC has opened up a new avenue for Kashmir's craftspeople to pursue new opportunities.
- According to Saleem Beg, Persian artisans have historically had a significant effect on Kashmir's shawl and carpet industries. "Our carpet designs are named after Iranian places such as Kashan and Tabriz.
Promote craftspeople.
Srinagar was also designated as a UNESCO Creative City in the Crafts and Folk Art category in 2021. After several decades of seclusion, Kashmir's craft culture has been given a fresh lease on life. "This is much-needed acknowledgment for hidden artisans who have crafted marvels for decades. It will assist to promote real crafts and artisans. Kashmir's craft industry is enjoying a renaissance with Geographical Indication tags and crafts trips.and the handicrafts and handloom department's policy," according to Mahmood Ahmed Shah, Director of Handicrafts and Handloom Industries in Kashmir.- According to government estimates, Kashmir's handicraft sector has experienced significant economic growth, with exports increasing from Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 crores during the previous five years. Artisans are also benefiting from this growing trend in the craft industry.
- Mujtaba Qadri, owner of the label Me&K and a craft revivalist, believes that the World Craft Council label for Srinagar would benefit artists in the long run by increasing worldwide exposure and demand for their goods. It will create chances for long-term profitability via increasing sales and tourism. It will help to preserve skills and cultural legacy, as well as provide access to networks for cooperation and advancement.
List of four Indian cities to be recognized as 'World Craft City'
- Srinagar
- Jaipur
- Malappuram
- Mysore
Important insights from all competitive exams:
- The founders of WCC are Ms. Aileen Osborn Vanderbilt Webb, Ms. Margaret M. Patch, and Smt Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.
- The current WCC headquarters for the period (2021-2024) are in the State of Kuwait.
- The World Crafts Council had its first general assembly on June 12, 1964, in New York.