The World Crafts Council International (WCCI) has turned its focus towards Srinagar as a potential candidate for the esteemed title of World Craft City (WCC).
About Srinagar’s traditional craft
Srinagar, spread over 416 square kilometres, has a registered artisan base of 20,822 craftsmen, who are involved in multiple disciples of papier mâché, walnut wood carving, hand-knotted carpet, Kani shawl, Khatamband, pashmina, Sozni craft etc.
The total craft related workforce in Srinagar stands at 1.76% approximately.
The contribution of the handicraft to the overall economy of J&K stood at 2.64% by 2016-17.
In 2021, Srinagar was designated as part of UNESCO Creative Cities Net Work (UCCN), and with this it has entered the club of 295 Creative Cities Net Work across the world.
After Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Varanasi and Jaipur, Srinagar is the sixth Indian city to achieve this distinction for different categories.
Srinagar became the second Indian city after Jaipur which was selected under the UCCN ‘Crafts and Folk Art category’.
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage-Kashmir (INTACH-K) is collaborating with the J&K Handicrafts department to map the craft sector ahead of the final nomination.
About WCCI
Founded in: 1964
Headquarters: Kuwait
The World Crafts Council International (WCCI) is dedicated to the recognition and preservation of traditional crafts globally.