WCC to Host Programme for Kashmiri Artisans | 06 Aug 2024

Source: TH

The World Crafts Council (WCC) will hold a knowledge exchange programme for artisans from Kashmir with cities that influenced the craft aesthetic here centuries ago. Earlier in June 2024, the WCC named Srinagar a World Craft City.

The move will bring together artisans with similar culture and specialisation, so that they benefit from each other, both culturally and technically.
The WCC-International was founded in 1964 and Smt Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, being one of the founding members, attended the 1^st WCC General Assembly. The main objective of the WCC is to strengthen the status of crafts in cultural and economic life.
Important crafts from Kashmir:
- 7 crafts from Kashmir-Kani Shawl, Pashmina, Sozni, Paper-Machie, Walnut Wood Carving, Khatamband, and Hand Knotted Carpets, have received Geographical Indication (GI) certification.
About Srinagar’s Craft:
- According to an Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage-Kashmir (INTACH-Kashmir) report of 2024, Srinagar is one of the ancient cities of South Asia with a continuously recorded history of about 1,500 years.
  - The INTACH was founded in 1984 in New Delhi with the vision to spearhead heritage awareness and conservation in India. Today, INTACH is recognized as one of the world’s largest heritage organisations.
- The city is known globally for the 'Cashmere' brand and paisley motif.
- Crafts such as Zanjan and Filigree were introduced by Iranian artisans five centuries ago.
- Srinagar's carpet tradition began in the late 14^th century with Sufi Saint Sayyid Ali Hamdani.
- In 2021, it was recognized as a UNESCO Creative City for crafts and folk arts.