Morteza Emadi:
Opening of the 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival with Unveiling “Sarv-e Simin Stamp”
The executive manager of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival said: the most important feature of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival is the opening of the event by unveiling “Sarv-e Simin Stamp”. After the unveiling, this stamp will be used for the Iran’s traditional and artistic correspondence at the national and international level.
According to the news agency of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival (Sarv-e Simin-e 7), Morteza Emadi, the executive manager of the festival, regarding the most important objectives, approaches and features of the festival stated: considering the necessity of introducing Iranian handicrafts and traditional arts in domestic and international markets, and the urgent need to use promotional facilities to achieve this goal, with the consultations held, the 7th edition of Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival, will be held internationally for the first time. In this edition, along with Iranian artifacts, the artifacts of 12 countries will be evaluated and at the end, “Sarv-e Simin Statuette” is awarded to 7 selected artisans, 4 Iranian selected artisans and 3 selected artisans of other countries. Jury panel of this festival includes 7 handicrafts veterans and master artisans including 4 Iranian jurors and 3 international jurors.
He continued: Introducing and exhibiting achievements of Deputy for handicrafts and traditional arts of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and handicrafts ministry during previous year, introducing National Award of Excellence, International award of Excellence, and introducing handicrafts veterans’ works of art, are amongst the main objectives of this international event.
The executive manager of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival, mentioning the main approaches of this festival said: promoting the position of handicrafts and traditional arts inside and outside of the country by this festival, exhibiting high capacity of creative and innovative products in handicrafts and traditional arts, introducing high-level artisans and crafts people to society also to each other and obtaining their viewpoints about exhibited artifacts, realization of identity-based economy and trying to establish cultural Justice and considering identity elements of provinces, are amongst the approaches of this festival.
Emadi added: one of the most important approaches of this festival is to strengthen attention to creative industries to stimulate demand in the market and commercial, industrial and artistic links. He continued: convergence of art and trade and modelling and preparing the ground for connection between traditional arts, handicrafts and society are other approaches of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival.
He, regarding special events of this festival said: awarding “Regrowth of Cypress Medal” is amongst special events of the 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival. This medal is awarded to children or representatives of handicrafts pioneer’s families who have followed the craft and profession of their parents professionally. In another section of special events namely “Intangible cultural heritage” “Sarv-e Simin Statuette” is awarded to 2 inscribed elements in the domain of traditional craftsmanship including needle work or Barbat musical instrument. Moreover, in the 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival, for the first time “Toranj-e Simin medal” is awarded to one of the women who had a significant contribution ,whether crafting or commercializing, in the domain of handicrafts and traditional arts of Iran.
The executive manager of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival, regarding one of the special features of this festival, stated: maybe it can be said the most important feature of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival is opening the event while unveiling “Sarv-e Simin Stamp” which is to be held at 14:00 on Wednesday 15th February, in the entrance hall of national museum of Iran. This stamp has been designed and prepared with cooperation of Iran National Post Company and handicrafts deputy of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts ministry in order to be used for the postal traditional and artistic items of Iran, at the national and international levels.
In the following, Emadi, referring to various side events in this festival said: the other feature of this edition of the festival, in comparison to the previous editions, is multiplicity and variety of the sections and side events of the festival which are to be held on 15-23 February at the national museum of Iran. This festival has 15 side events some of which are: Festival accepted products Exhibition, “Shah name” khani (reciting verses from epic poetic masterpiece of “Shah name” Ferdowsi (as a daily event), “Iran Land’s voices and sounds” with live performance of traditional music bands from different regions of Iran, holding workshops with presentation of Iranian and international instructors along with giving valid certificates, live broadcast of the workshops on the website, setting up ecotourism booth with the aim of presenting experiences of successful activists of the tourism sector, and describing common elements between ecotourism, handicrafts and traditional arts.
He added: screening one or two Iranian movies focusing on handicrafts and traditional arts in “Sarv-e Simin” cinema, is another side event of this festival which is to be held as a daily event at the amphitheater of Iran national museum. It is worthy to be mentioned that three movies to be screened in this event, will be screened for the first time.
The executive manager of 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival clarified: “Sarv-e Simin” radio is to be broadcasted live as a daily event from Iran national museum, and is to introduce different sections of the festival and is to have a live connection with one or two national radio networks every day. The contents of these radio programs are also uploaded to the festival site as podcasts for those interested. Another measure taken in order to hold the 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival is to launch “Sarv-e Simin” studio, which introduces the various programs of the festival in the form of talks and interviews with officials, experts and master artisans of each field. These programs are broadcast live from “Miras-e Arya Internet TV” on the Telewebion platform.
He continued: Among the attractive measures taken on the 7th Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival will be setting up “Sarv-e Simin” gallery on the closing day of the festival (Thursday, 23 february) in the entrance hall of Milad Tower. In this program, one field is selected from each of the 18 groups of handicrafts and 18 artisans perform live in the same field, and 18 painters depict these artistic performances simultaneously.
Emadi said at the end: another innovative program of the 7th Fajr Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival is that almost every day an honorary chairman is selected from among the veterans of this field for the exhibition, who attends the National Museum of Iran, while visiting various departments and workshops and will plant a cedar tree in the grounds of the National Museum of Iran as a memorial, which until the last day of the festival, seven cedar trees will be planted by the seven honorary chairmen of the festival. On the closing ceremony of this cultural and artistic event, these veterans will be honored with a plaque of Sarv Gratitude.
The 7th edition of Fajr International Handicrafts and Traditional Arts Festival (Sarv-e Simin-e 7) will be held on 15-23 February 2023 at the national museum of Iran.