The Second International Handicrafters Festival will take place in Kokand on September 21-23, and the International Ceramics Forum – in Rishtan district.

The events aim to cover the ancient history and culture of peoples comprehensively, demonstrate Uzbek national crafts, which are an intangible cultural heritage, and further strengthen friendship and develop cooperation between peoples.

At the first international festival, the World Crafts Council awarded Kokand the status of World City of Artisans. The city, which has a two-thousand-year-old glorious history, picturesque nature, and witnessed many significant events, was one of the cultural centers where crafts developed. Folk art is highly developed here. Family dynasties of artisans pass secrets from generation to generation. The tradition of “master- apprentice” is actively used.

The 2019 festival was attended by 570 artisans from 78 countries and over 1,000 craftsmen from 14 regions of Uzbekistan. More than a million tourists visited the festival. After a while, the flow of tourists to Kokand increased 10 times, the number of artisans – 3.5 times, and the number of hotels – 2.5 times.

The festival’s Organizing Committee is actively preparing for the Second International Handicrafters Festival and Ceramics Forum. The festival’s website runs in Uzbek, Russian, and English (http://handicrafters.uz ). You can find information about the festival, national crafts, artisans, and their products here.

Experts of international organizations, heads of the World Crafts Council, representatives of the International Folk Art Market Festival (IFAM) held in Santa Fe, and significant exhibition organizations are invited to the festival.    

A scientific-practical conference “Prospects for the development of crafts and folk art”, as well as other events and a trip to Rishtan and Furkat districts, will be organized at the event.

An international scientific-practical conference, masterclasses of representatives of pottery schools, exhibitions and presentations, theatrical performances, cultural-enlightenment, and promotional events will also be organized.

Those who wish to become apprentices of potters and other craftsmen can participate in the events and contribute to manufacturing clay products.

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M.Suleymanov, photos by M.Qodirov, UzA