World Crafts Council International

About World Crafts Council International

• It is a Kuwait-based organisation working on the recognition and preservation of traditional crafts across the globe.
• It was founded by Ms. Aileen Osborn Vanderbilt Webb, Ms. Margaret M. Patch, and Smt Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay at the 1st World Crafts Council General Assembly in New York on June 12, 1964.
• Since its inception, the World Crafts Council AISBL has been affiliated with UNESCO under Consultative Status for many years. 
• Objective: The main objective of the World Crafts Council AISBL is to strengthen the status of crafts in cultural and economic life.
• Aim: The Council aims to promote fellowship among craftspersons by offering them encouragement, help, and advice.
• It fosters and assists cultural exchange through conferences, international visits, research study, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and other activities.

Key facts about the World Craft City Programme

• It is a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2014 by the World Crafts Council AISBL (WCC-International) in recognition of the pivotal role local authorities, craftspeople, and communities play in cultural, economic, and social development worldwide.
• It establishes a dynamic network of craft cities across the globe, aligning with the principles of the creative economy.
• This initiative responds to the increasing acknowledgment of the valuable contributions made by local entities to the multifaceted dimensions of development.
• Under these initiatives Jaipur (Rajasthan), Mammalapuram (Tamil Nadu) and Mysore have been added as craft cities from India.

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Key facts about Kashmir Craft

• Kashmir’s craft is mostly influenced by Central Asian countries, which are in the list of the WCC.

· The distinction of being included in the WCC list will put a spotlight on Srinagar’s craft scene and introduce the centuries-old processes to the global stage.

Q1: What is Namda art?

It is a type of traditional Kashmiri felted carpet that is created using sheep wool and has colourful hand embroidery. The distinct feature of this Kashmiri craft is that wool is felted and not woven.

Source: Srinagar vies for global craft city tag as World Craft Council International team tours craft clusters