KUWAIT: The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) and the Kuwaiti Old Crafts Association took part in the third edition of the Kokand International Handicrafts Festival and the Second International Ceramics Forum in Uzbekistan, held under the auspices of the World Crafts Council (WCC). The Kuwaiti pavilion, organized by NCCAL, featured a wide range of traditional crafts and cultural activities. Artist and potter Ali Al-Awadh and Dima Al-Quraini, supervisor of the Kuwaiti Ceramics House, presented distinctive ceramic works, while children from the Uzbek city of Rishtan also joined in the pavilion’s activities.
Chairman of the Kuwaiti Old Crafts Association Hussein Al-Bazzaz showcased the traditional shipbuilding craft, alongside member Nadia Al-Hammadi, who displayed Sadu weaving, and potter Nasser Al-Quraini, who presented unique ceramic pieces. Speaking to KUNA on Sunday, Al-Bazzaz described the festival, which opened on September 19 and concluded on September 23 , as a global platform for craftsmen and artisans. He noted that the event has quickly grown into one of the most prominent international gatherings in the field, attracting more than 300 artisans from 71 countries, in addition to nearly 1,000 Uzbek craftsmen who highlighted the country’s rich heritage.
Parallel to the festival, the city of Rishtan – renowned for its ceramics – hosted the Second International Ceramics Forum, providing an additional artistic dimension and an opportunity for the exchange of expertise among ceramic artists from various traditions. The festival featured specialized exhibitions, workshops, live demonstrations, and fashion shows that integrated handicrafts into contemporary design, in addition to folkloric, musical, and artistic performances reflecting the identity and traditions of the Fergana Valley. Visitors also enjoyed traditional competitions, including wrestling and a national pilaf cooking contest, as well as a pavilion offering authentic Uzbek cuisine.
This year’s edition also witnessed the inauguration of a permanent handicrafts museum in Kokand to preserve the history of crafts for future generations. A new book documenting the history of Uzbek handicrafts and their leading figures was also launched. For her part, Dima Al-Quraini said the ceramics forum aims to preserve pottery traditions, expand research in the field, and highlight the most important works representing each participating country. She noted that the biennial event attracts participants from around 50 countries worldwide.
Meanwhile, Professor Ali Al-Najadah, head of the craftsmen sector and spokesman for the Expo 965 team, participated as a guest of honor. He expressed pride in seeing the Kuwaiti flag raised at the event and confirmed that he, along with other international judges, will evaluate Samarkand’s nomination as a World City of Crafts – which, if approved, would make it the third in Uzbekistan after Kokand and Bukhara.
The World Crafts Council, an international non-profit organization founded in New York in 1964 and now headquartered in Kuwait under the presidency of Saad Al-Qaddoumi, plays a leading role in safeguarding global craft heritage. Earlier this year, the Council recognized Kuwait City as a World City of Sadu Weaving in acknowledgment of its distinguished efforts in preserving and promoting this traditional art. — KUNA
