Over 8,000 works submitted at Fajr Int’l Handicrafts Festival
The ninth edition of Fajr International Handicrafts Festival, known as Sarv-e Simin 9, received 8,172 submissions, said the Deputy Minister of Handicrafts at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Maryam Jalali, during a press conference and poster unveiling ceremony held in Tehran. Out of the total submissions, 7,974 are from 4,378 domestic artists, and 198 are from artists representing 20 different countries, IRNA reported.
Jalali highlighted that the highest number of entries, 853, came from the Fars Province, particularly in the wooden and wicker handicrafts category. “In the seventh festival, we focused on women as the driving force, and in the ninth edition, we emphasize generational bonds,” Jalali added. “Our mission in this third step is to achieve national unity through cultural diversity.”
The deputy minister emphasized the importance of the festival as a significant event in the handicrafts industry. “The festival is one of the many events in the value chain, and we aim to adhere to our goals and ensure coherence. The relevant departments are in harmony, and the festival is an extension of our ongoing efforts,” she added.
Jalali further explained that the festival serves as a platform to evaluate outstanding works, and they have strived to achieve excellence in both quantity and quality. “While we may not have achieved complete satisfaction, we are committed to continuous growth,” she said.
The ninth festival, according to Jalali, is a celebration of authenticity and arts, with the participation of the people and artists at its core. “The cultural, tourism, and support departments have come together to make this exhibition and festival a reality. Our focus is on trade at the exhibition and authenticity at the festival. We have achieved systemic and organizational unity and are now moving towards popular unity,” she added, referring to the recent exhibition held in November.
Jalali emphasized the multi-faceted nature of the festival, mentioning the presence of international evaluators who have come to Iran for two purposes: To assess the festival’s entries and to evaluate the traditional jewelry and handicrafts of Yazd for potential UNESCO World Heritage status.
Unveiling the festival’s poster, Jalali explained its symbolism, saying, “The flowers in the poster bow their heads to symbolize humility for the festival.”
She further elaborated on the design, adding, “The nine paisley motifs represent the nine steps, and the lines forming a hook shape are a contemporary interpretation, as storytelling takes precedence in today’s world. The design, growing from the heart of the seals, signifies our future vision, reminding us to embrace modernity while remaining committed to our authentic roots.”