UNESCO has featured Srinagar in the prestigious list of Creative Cities Network in the category of craft and folk art.
This inclusion marks a recognition of J&K rich craft and art heritage.
The announcement was made by the UNESCO on its website on Monday. The 49 cities were added to the network of 246 cities following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
Saleem Baig, Convenor of INTACH (J&K Chapter), said they have been preparing dossier for this recognition for last four years and making it UNESCO list is huge recognition of artisans of Kashmir who have kept the centuries old craft alive.
“Its a huge recognition of Kashmiri craft and heritage. Its recognition of identity of Kashmir, its craftsmen who sustained tradition for centuries,” said Mr Baig.
“We were left out in 2019. This time there were two cities recommended for the recognition – Srinagar and Gwalior. UNESCO decided to select Srinagar this time,” he added.
“It’s a moment of immense satisfaction for the artisan community as the enlisting of Srinagar in UNESCO Creative Cities Network would bring Srinagar on the international platform and expand markets for our crafts” says Mehmooda an artisan associated with crewel cluster at Noorbagh, Srinagar.
“The designation of Srinagar City in UNESCO Creative cities would give a big push to marketing of Kashmir as a major tourist destination globally and it is expected that more and more tourists across would visit Kashmir in future and give a much needed flip to tourist industry in valley” said Ashiq Khurro associated with tourist industry.
Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Chief Executive Officer JKERA/JTFRP said that it is a moment of immense satisfaction for all of us that only three cities at National level have made it to the UNESCO list and Srinagar is one of them” . He said that “Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha has taken a personal interest in the matter and it’s because of his guidance that this unique recognition has been achieved”.
“It is very heartening for the entire World Bank team that Srinagar has been able to bag a position in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network list under the World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project” said Mr Deepak Singh ,Deputy Team Leader World Bank for JTFRP.
Mehmood Ahmad Shah, Director Handicrafts & Handlooms, said “Main aim of the initiative is to glorify all the Artisans and as part of the promotion of our arts and crafts we are adopting a multipronged brand strategy which includes an ideal market mix of Handmade with Art, Authenticity, Testing and G.I tagging of various crafts.