According to IRNA, the Policy Making Council meeting of the 8^th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival with the aim of convergence and participation of many sections and organizations in the field of handicrafts and mobilization in this field, was held on Sunday 19 November 2023 with the presence of Director Generals of the ministry and also representatives from various institutions. The approach of this event is to promote handicrafts as an identity-based economy, family-oriented and completely domestically produced by the people.

"Sarv-e Simin-e 8 " is Basic Approach of Handicrafts in Second Step of Revolution

Maryam Jalali, Handicrafts Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry, stated: This is the 8^th edition of this event, which is a basic approach in the second step of the revolution in the field of handicrafts. After holding 6 editions, the 7^th edition was held internationally and this year is the 8^th edition and the second international edition.

She added: Realization of identity-based economy is one of our most important strategies and solutions in this festival. In this regard, we defined three approaches for this festival, one of which is the connection between the new generation and the past generation, which raising  awareness of the new generation and using the experiences of the old generation is followed. In addition, effective communication with all relevant groups and converging the value chain are two other approaches of this festival.

The Handicrafts Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry continued:  Sarv-e Simin-e 8 Festival (8^th Silver Cypress Festival) can help fusion in the field of handicrafts. One of our most important plans is to strengthen exports, and in this festival, we are strongly looking for ways to strengthen the export of handicrafts.

Jalali pointed out: The connection of handicrafts to the home and kitchen has flourished in recent years. In this festival, we determined 6 axes for this festival and we are working to improve this festival. We are seriously pursuing utilization, modernization, new designs for the new generation, raising awareness and interest, producing handicrafts works aligned with and related to religious and pilgrimage works.

The handicrafts deputy minister reminded: Of course, in order to progress our work, we tried to follow marketing and branding at the same time as holding this festival, because although handicrafts is a passion and not a job, it should be wealth-creator.

Sarv-e Simin Festival is one of the Great Actions of Ministry of Cultural Heritage

Hossein Sari, Director General of ministerial office of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry, also said in this meeting: Holding this festival is considered one of the great actions of this ministry, the prediction is that holding this festival in the current social conditions can help to create vitality in the society. This festival, like other festivals, require its own preparations, but the concern of our colleagues in the Deputy of Handicrafts in the past months has made this festival have good conditions so far, and holding such meetings can help the maturity of this festival so that we can witness the performance and holding of a favorable festival.

Sari continued: One of the serious detriments of handicrafts is the introduction of the capacities of this field and its marketing, therefore, in this festival, we must pay attention to the market and sales and be able to connect the production chain to the supply. Festival slogan has been selected with the topic generational connection which is very good and appropriate, and we should introduce the new generation to the capacities and subtleties of the field of handicrafts.

Adding Handicrafts to Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Proposed

Mostafa Deh Pahlavan, the head of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute also said at this meeting: one of the important programs that can be proposed in this meeting is to add the name of handicrafts to the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism in order to further strengthen the research institute's cooperation with the field of handicrafts.

He added: according to the missions assigned to the research institute, this center has a lot of common fields of cooperation with handicrafts. Handicrafts have existed in Iran since ancient times, and in the conducted research, we sometimes come across handicrafts that were used in the past.

Deh Pahlavan noted: holding Sarv-e Simin-e 8 Festival (8^th Silver Cypress Festival) will definitely have good results and achievements, and we at the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism are ready to cooperate with the Deputy of Handicrafts to hold this festival as well as possible.