Context

• Srinagar has earned the World Craft City tag from the World Crafts Council, a non-government organisation working to empower artisans and safeguard craft heritage globally.

  • It was designated as part of the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN) for crafts and folk arts.

Key Details

• Saleem Beg, head of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage-Kashmir, described the honour as the “latest recognition of the skill base of Kashmir”.

  

• This will provide a boost to Kashmir’s traditional linkages with Central Asia and Iran.
• There are 14 Iranian cities listed as craft cities by the Council and, the honour for Srinagar will lead to knowledge exchange.
• This is likely to re-open Kashmir’s centuries-old linkages with craft centres in Central Asia and Iran.
• The Council is the modern-day means and medium to put the focus on places that have been engaged in creativity and aesthetics for centuries.
• The last century saw Kashmir’s traditional routes slowly closing down, the WCC has provided a new highway for artisans to achieve a new trajectory.
• The J&K administration had applied for the recognition of Srinagar as World Craft City in 2021 together with recognition as UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
• Located on the historic Shahra-e-Abresham (the Silk Route) the city generated wealth of ideas related to arts and crafts and facilitated exchange of activities in trade, cultural practices and scientific knowledge.
• The WCC listed a number of craft products of Kashmir including Papier-Mache, Hand Knotted Carpets, Pashmina Shawls, Kani and Sozni work.
• The city’s crafts, ranging from Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri carpets to intricate woodwork and papier-mâché, reflect the region’s cultural soul and artistic genius.

Back to basics

• Jaipur, Malappuram and Mysore are the other Indian cities that have previously been recognised as World Craft Cities.

Source: TH & HT

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