Gonbad-e Kavus home to over 7,000 handicraft artisans
More than 7,000 artisans are active in 42 handicraft fields in Gonbad-e Kavus, highlighting the northern Golestan city’s strong potential for preserving and developing traditional crafts, the head of its Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department said.
Maryam Aghatabay said the city’s diverse ethnic communities have helped create a rich handicraft tradition and provide a valuable foundation for promoting traditional arts and developing new opportunities for skills training.
She added that the private sector is prepared to establish a handicrafts school specifically for girls in Gonbad-e Kavus. The necessary correspondence has been conducted with the city’s Education Department to pursue the initiative and obtain the required permits.
Establishing the school could play an important role in preserving traditional crafts, providing specialized training and passing skills on to younger generations, Aghatabay said. It could also help strengthen the position of traditional and indigenous arts in the local economy.
She noted that experienced artisans from various ethnic communities, including Qizilbash, Kurdish, Semnani, Sistani, Baluchi and Turkmen communities, are active in Gonbad-e Kavus. Their expertise, she added, could be used to train young people and help preserve traditional techniques.
Some of the city’s handicrafts, including Turkmen kilim weaving and embroidery, have received international recognition, while others have received UNESCO’s Seal of Excellence.
Aghatabay expressed hope that, once the necessary permits are issued, the handicrafts school will begin educational activities in the coming academic year.
Gonbad-e Kavus is one of the main cultural and historical centers of Golestan Province and is known for its diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. The city is home to the Gonbad-e Qabus Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most prominent examples of medieval Iranian architecture. Its cultural diversity, traditional arts and proximity to natural attractions in Golestan also give the city considerable potential for cultural and heritage tourism.