The largest and most active segment of the global crafts entity, the World Crafts Council, has heaped praise on the Lankan crafts sector saying that it is proud to have an influential member like Sri Lanka’s National Crafts Council with it. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s latest arts and crafts event Shilpa Abhimani has netted sales exceeding Rs six million by its closing day Sunday 8 October.
“We are proud of have an influential and effective member organisation like Sri Lanka’s National Crafts Council that embraces and promotes the mission of World Crafts Council” declared President of the World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region (WCC-AP) Ms Ghada Hijjawi Qaddumi on 4 October at BMICH in Colombo. WCC’s Qaddumi was addressing the launch event of Shilpa Abhimani 2017 (the international level arts, crafts festival and exhibition which included an International Crafts Festival) which was joined by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, State Minister of Industry and Commerce Champika Premadasa and Chairperson of National Crafts Council Heshani Bogollagama. WCC is the only global voice for craftspeople the world over and closely works with UNESCO. The Shilpa Abhimani 2017 has netted sales exceeding Rs six million by its last day Sunday 8 October (without counting in sales by its foreign participants). The total number of visitors to the event as of noon 8 October was at 13000. 1000 craft persons displayed 1200 items and another 100 exhibitor stalls (of which 20 are by foreign participants from Iran, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Kuwait) in this event by the National Crafts Council of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The highlight of Shilpa Abhimani 2017 launch was the presence of President of the World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region (WCC-AP) Ms Ghada Hijjawi Qaddumi who is also a reputed global scholar.
“This Shilpa Abhimani exhibition embodies the deep cultural heritage of Sri Lankan people and reflects the ancestral traditions of Lankan patrons who rewarded talented artisans. This practice is manifested till today by the President of the country. The strong government support to National Craft Council (NCC) is appreciated by the World Crafts Council” said WCC’s Qaddumi and added: “We are proud of have such an influential and effective member organisation like NCC that embraces and promotes the mission of WCC. Sri Lanka’s NCC promotes the diversified crafts of Sri Lanka by making these crafts visible across the world. Three SL craftsmen won the NCC Award of Excellence for handicrafts in 2016.Also SL artisans and designers, some of whom are affiliated with NCC applied for WCC awards 2017 the results of which will be announced in New Delhi this October 15. WCC was established in 1964 in New York, USA. Its main mission is to preserve crafts and encourage crafts people to produce high quality crafts. The WCC has 5 regions and each has a President. The seat of presidency of Asia Pacific WCC is in the state of Kuwait this year. To encourage the continuity of crafts, the WCC has nominated 23 cities across Asia Pacific region as “World Crafts Cities” since 2014. Therefore from this podium I invite the Minister of Industry and Commerce and the NCC of Sri Lanka to nominate one Sri Lankan city or village specialized in a specific craft for 2018 (as a World Crafts City), and to send the application to Asia Pacific region’s President in Kuwait. The ancient tradition of handicrafts making in Sri Lanka drew the tenth century Arab historian writer Al Masudi to state that no one can surpass the people of Sri Lanka “Sarandib” in their delicate craftsmanship in weaving and other crafts.”
World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) forms the largest and most active part of the World Crafts Council (WCC). WCC is the only global body to support the aspiration of the world’s craftspeople, whether in maintaining honourable inherited traditions, or in extending frontiers by experiment and innovation. WCC was established in New York City, United States in June 1964 to maintain, strengthen, and ensure the status of crafts as a vital part of cultural life, and to promote the human values of the crafts and a sense of fellowship among the craftspeople around the world. WCC is now recognized as an NGO affiliated with UNESCO in category A of non-governmental organizations.
The NCC, under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce facilitates and supports Sri Lanka’s arts, crafts and designs and has almost 25000 Lankan artisans registered under it.
PHOTO – HE President Maithripala Sirisena and Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen share an official souvenir moment at the launch event of Shilpa Abhimani 2017 joined by State Minister of Industry and Commerce Champika Premadasa (centre), Chairperson of National Crafts Council Heshani Bogollagama (second from right) and President of the World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region (WCC-AP) Ms Ghada Hijjawi Qaddumi (far right) at BMICH on 4 October.
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