Exhibition of 9th Int’l Fajr Handicrafts Festival extended
The exhibition of the 9th International Fajr Handicrafts Festival, known as Sarv-e Simin, will be extended until February 28, in response to high demand from artists, researchers, and enthusiasts of traditional arts.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a wide array of masterpieces by both Iranian and international artisans, offering a rare glimpse into the vibrant world of traditional craftsmanship, ISNA reported.
The festival, which kicked off on February 20 at Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex, has attracted significant participation from across the globe.
A total of 8,173 artworks were submitted to the festival, with 7,974 pieces coming from 4,378 Iranian artists, and 198 works submitted by artists from 20 countries, including Tajikistan, Afghanistan, France, Thailand, the UK, India, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
Among the international submissions, Tajikistan was the leading contributor, while Iranian artists from Isfahan and Shiraz submitted the highest number of pieces.
The festival aims to celebrate and recognize outstanding works in the field of handicrafts and traditional arts, with an emphasis on both preserving heritage and fostering innovation. The event’s closing ceremony, took place, February 24 at Milad Tower in Tehran.
Available data compiled by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Iran’s annual handicraft exports currently stand at about $250 million, with an additional $250 million in informal “suitcase” exports. However, the global market for handicrafts is valued at $770 billion, underscoring a significant opportunity for growth.
Currently, a selection of 13 cities and three villages in Iran have been registered by the World Council of Handicrafts as “world cities of handicrafts.”