According to Borna handicrafts reporter, Maryam Jalali, the Deputy Minister for Handicrafts and Traditional Arts, at the press conference of the 8th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival stated: this event is a link in a chain which has been organized based on Engineer Zarghami's policies.
She stated that all the plans for holding this event are based on meaningful circles, and that Azadi Tower as a symbol of Iranian architectural arts and having a wide range of meaning has been chosen as the host of the festival with the same purpose.
Jalali pointed to the policy of strengthening attention and changing the approach from cultural to economic and connecting handicrafts to the literature of development and value chain, and called the special attention of the president to this area as a sign of the change in the status of this area.
The Deputy Minister for Handicrafts and Traditional Arts stated that a new chapter related to Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) has opened in the 8th edition of this festival, and called Imamzadeh as places of devotion of handicrafts artisans to Ahl al-Bayt.
She pointed to “intergenerational bonding, safeguarding identity in the world” as the slogan of this edition, and mentioned modernization, education of producers and attention of the young generation as the components needed to expand the handicrafts market, and considered festival as a place to find the meaning of authenticity and roots.
Jalali pointed to intra-organizational cohesion and extra-organizational understanding and added: The Policy Making Council of Fajr Handicrafts Festival consists of 23 institutions that play a significant role in the field of culture, and this festival can be a place for greater interaction and convergence with these institutions.
The Deputy Minister for Handicrafts and Traditional Arts stating that the supply of handicrafts in the provinces has increased and according to the order of the president, handicrafts markets have been opened in the entrances of the cities, added: Our emphasis is to promote handicrafts in a continuous line from the time of creation to consumption, to pay attention to the different components and areas, and all our efforts in this year have been focused on this issue.
She announced the submission of 5,000 artworks from 2,000 artisans and participation of 16 countries in this event and the presence of 300 artworks from veterans in the field of handicrafts and traditional arts, and by stating that Fajr Handicrafts Festival is the festival of festivals, she pointed to use the capacity of other related festivals in this event.
Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, Serbia, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, China, Colombia, Tajikistan, North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand are sixteen countries participating in this event.
The Deputy Minister for Handicrafts and Traditional Arts mentioned the concentration of all components of development, promotion and sales in Azadi Tower during this event and announced the planning for holding various workshops, participation of students and university students of related fields, the special section of Razavi art with the title " "Honar Dar Haram" (Art in Shrine) and role-playing and presentation of the achievements of the World Crafts Cities and Villages of Iran.
In response to the question of Borna reporter about the measures taken by the Deputy of Handicrafts in order to improve the way of presenting artworks and having packaging, as well as introducing the new generation to handicrafts, she said: In the field of introduction, we tried to stimulate the taste of the young generation to use handicrafts by producing content and serial.
She added: We are trying to turn handicrafts into capital goods while being consumer goods, and in this regard, we cooperated with Fajr fashion and clothing festival this year.
Referring to her recent meeting with the Printing and Packaging Union, Jalali said: We are facing the public who do not feel the need to have packaging for their products, therefore, in addition to changing the culture of customers and policymakers, we should also think about changing the culture of producers as well.
The Deputy Minister for Handicrafts stated: Good measures has been taken in the field of packaging, we have a series of exhibitions in ministries and institutions, where it is mandatory to have packaging for the product, also the condition of giving the booth in Sarv-e Simin Festival is to have packaging.
Jalali at the press conference of the 8th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival:
Sarv-e Simin is Festival of Festivals/ An Event with Presence of Ambassadors and Cultural attachés and Participation of 16 Countries/ Submission of 5000 Artworks from 2000 Artisan
The Deputy Minister for Handicrafts and Traditional Arts said: Sarv-e Simin festival is an opportunity to use the capacity of other festivals related to handicrafts.
The 8th edition of Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival titled "8th Sarv-e Simin" will be held from 16 to 20 February 2024 in Tehran.
Translation by: Mina Amidzade