Semnan to host National Handicrafts Exhibition in November
The deputy director for handicrafts and traditional arts at the Semnan Province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization announced that the province will host a national handicrafts exhibition from November 14 to 20.
Speaking to IRNA, Samaneh Soltanipour said handicraft artists from across Iran will take part in the exhibition, providing artists from Semnan with an opportunity to introduce, display and sell their products.
She said cultural programs will also be held alongside the exhibition to highlight the province’s cultural potential. Nightly programs have been planned, including events marking “Semnan Cultural Week” and “Semnan Day.”
Soltanipour also noted the number of active handicraft artists in Semnan has surpassed 6,000 following significant growth in recent years. She noted that the number had previously been estimated at more than 4,500, but has now increased to over 6,000.
According to Soltanipour, increased financial support, assistance with sales and marketing, greater promotion of artists and efforts to facilitate their participation in exhibitions have contributed to the growing interest in handicrafts. She said such measures have increased confidence among the province’s artistic community and encouraged younger generations to enter the handicrafts sector.
She also announced plans to expand online sales of handicrafts, saying a meeting with representatives of Digikala is scheduled to be held in the province next week. A number of handicraft artists and facilitators will attend the meeting to explore ways of increasing the visibility of Semnan handicraft products on online sales platforms.
Soltanipour added that some artists in the province are also active on social media, while the provincial department is seeking to use exhibitions across the country to provide opportunities for artists to promote and sell their products.
She said 15 handicrafts markets and exhibitions had been held in different parts of the province since the beginning of the current Iranian year.
Referring to the expansion of permanent handicrafts markets in the province, Soltanipour said that, in addition to existing permanent markets in Shahroud and Garmsar, a permanent handicrafts market has also become operational in Aradan through the efforts of local officials and support from the provincial department.
She also identified the publication of the “Electronic Booklet of Semnan Handicrafts” as another recent initiative. The booklet is available on the provincial Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts’ website and is being used to introduce local artists and their products.
Soltanipour further announced that a handicraft artist from Semnan will participate in the Global Crafts Festival in Vietnam. She said four representatives from Iran are taking part in the festival this year, with one of the places allocated to Semnan Province.
She described the participation as an opportunity to promote the province’s handicrafts internationally, adding that the presence of Semnan artists at national and international events could help showcase the province’s handicraft potential.
She also stressed the importance of incorporating handicraft-related elements into urban design. In Mehdishahr, which holds the title of National Needlework City, she said, successful steps had been taken to incorporate handicraft-related elements into the urban environment. She expressed hope that mayors in other parts of the province would also pay greater attention to this potential.
Regarding handicrafts training programs, Soltanipour said 1,240 people across the province received free handicrafts training last year.
She added that training courses in packaging, marketing and branding are also being held for artists so that those working in the sector can strengthen their skills not only in production but also in promoting and marketing their products.
She said the Handicrafts Creative Event has so far been held three times in the province, and talks have been held with the provincial Science and Technology Park about organizing the event at the national level.
Soltanipour added that, if the necessary conditions are met, Semnan will host the National Handicrafts Creative Event this year in cooperation with the Science and Technology Park.