Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An official opening ceremony of the Crafts Development Centre at the Karakalpakstan Branch of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan and a Round Table entitled “The Preservation and Development of the Traditional Handicrafts of Karakalpakstan” will be organized in Nukus on 10 October 2014, followed with a practical training on traditional Karakalpak handicrafts and natural dying from 10 to 21 October.

These events are organized by the UNESCO Office in Tashkent in close cooperation with the Karakalpakstan Branch of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan within the framework of the UN Joint Programme on “Sustaining livelihoods affected by the Aral Sea disaster”. Within the framework of this programme, UNESCO aims to support the social and economic well-being of the local population through the development of traditional crafts and tourism sector, thereby reviving and preserving the cultural heritage of Karakalpakstan.

In all its manifestations culture is a vital component of sustainable development. Tangible and intangible heritage, creative industries and different forms of artistic expressions contribute to promoting peace, safeguarding social stability and protecting the environment, as well as inclusive social and economic development and sustainability.

As an integral part of culture, traditional handicrafts permeate all aspects of our lives and determine the way people live and interact at the local and global levels. Therefore, today we have a strong necessity to safeguard traditional handicrafts, given the global trends of modernization and industrialization, through different measures like the organization of trainings, establishment of crafts centres and promotion of masters.

This is also needed in Karakalpakstan, the region with a rich cultural heritage, including the applied arts. Therefore, an idea was born to create a crafts centre in Karakalpakstan, which could drive the revival and development of traditional crafts.

The main objective of creation of the Crafts Development Centre in Nukus is to promote the revival, preservation, promotion and development of the traditional crafts of Karakalpakstan, and improve economic well-being and livelihoods of the local population through teaching and learning of skills in the field of traditional crafts and the creation of income-generating opportunities. Also, the establishment of the Centre will contribute to the promotion of traditional Karakalpak crafts at the national and international levels and attract tourists to the region.

A Round Table on “The Issues of Preservation and Development of the Traditional Handicrafts of Karakalpakstan” is also planned to be held after the official opening of the Centre. The aim of the Round Table is to identify and discuss the most important aspects and issues related to the revival, development and promotion of the traditional crafts of Karakalpakstan, including activities of the just-established Crafts Development Centre in Nukus.

After the opening of the Centre, a practical training will be organized to teach new skills of traditional crafts, in particular, for natural dying (October 10-12, 2014), Karakalpak embroidery (October 10-18, 2014), carpet weaving (October 10-21, 2014) and producing yurt accessories (October 10-21, 2014). The training will contribute to strengthening national capacities in the field of the traditional Karakalpak crafts among women and the youth, safeguarding and transmitting the traditional knowledge and skills to the next generations.