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Tehran handicrafts fair becomes turning point in Iran’s cultural event history
The fair was held in Tehran from November 13 to 16, 2024, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and over a thousand participants from across the country.
In a policy meeting held Tuesday to plan the upcoming edition, Deputy Minister of Handicrafts Maryam Jalali described last year’s event as a “structural and content transformation.”
The session, attended by Cultural Heritage Minister Reza Salehi Amiri and senior officials, was held at the ministry’s Nowruz Hall.
Jalali said the 2024 fair had become more than a venue for craft sales, it served as a national stage to project Iran’s “cultural power” and engage in global dialogue.
The ministry reported that 1,038 artists and organizers participated in the event, which brought in an estimated 80,000 visitors. Through prior negotiations, officials secured a 50% discount on booth rental fees and provided free accommodation for 259 artisans from economically disadvantaged regions.
In addition to the 1 trillion rials ($18.8 million) in declared artist sales, the event also resulted in 1.5 trillion rials ($28.3 million) in domestic contracts signed with public institutions. The most notable outcome was a $50 million memorandum of understanding with a visiting commercial delegation from the region — a deal officials say highlights the potential of Iran’s crafts sector in economic diplomacy.
“We saw a real shift,” Jalali said. “This was not just an exhibition, it was a platform to grow our creative economy and raise the global profile of Iranian craftsmanship.” She added that the 38th edition would aim to build on last year’s success through national brand development and stronger cultural exports.