IRCICA and Muscat Municipality are jointly organizing the Muscat ...

IRCICA and Muscat Municipality are jointlyorganizing the Muscat International Festival forArts and CraftsAccompanied by:Muscat International Award forInnovation and Creativity in Crafts(Worth US$100.000)and theInternational Exhibition of Artisans-as at-WorkMuscat, Sultanate of Omanon 3-23 February 2012Muscat Municipality, Sultanate of Oman and the Research Centre for Islamic History,Art and Culture (IRCICA), Istanbul, are jointly organizing the Muscat InternationalFestival for Arts and Crafts on 3-23 February, 2012 in Muscat. The Festival will beaccompanied by an International Congress on "Innovation and Creativity in Arts andCrafts"; "Muscat International Award for Innovation and Creativity in the Crafts" (worthUS$100,000); and the International Exhibition of Artisans-as at-work.The festival aims at gathering all the innovators and craftspeople in this field in pavilionsforming a craft village where they will display their works, their tools and the techniquesused in their workshops; on this occasion, each State will have the opportunity to assigntwo artisans representing the most important craft products in the country. The proposedactivities include: Exhibitions of Artisans-at-work, An exhibition of masterpieces of handicrafts products, Arts and crafts market (Bazaar),Program of ActivitiesA Folkloric Parade under the Slogan "Revival and Protection ofTraditional Heritage"The festival will be opened on the first day with a folkloric parade in the main courtyardof the Festival in the city of Muscat. Folkloric groups including artisans will participatein this parade to provide cultural presentations punctuated by fireworks to celebrate this1

occasion, and to raise awareness of the importance of artisans, and revival and protectionof the traditional heritage.Live Presentations of Artisans-as at-WorkEach participating State will select two artisans representing the most important crafts ofthe country. These craftspeople will display their tools, skills and techniques in the fieldsof arts and handicrafts in special pavilions. Participants and visitors of the exhibition willhave the opportunity to get acquainted with this rich heritage, to meet artisans and inquireabout their works, and to acquire some of these pieces for those who are interested inhandicrafts; as a result, this will contribute in increasing public awareness of thisimportant field.Arts and Crafts Masterpieces ExhibitionEach participating State will contribute to display some samples of the available art andcraft masterpieces within the allocated stands. Relevant information will be provided onsuch products including the characteristics, techniques used, and details about rawmaterials, colors, designs etc.Arts and Crafts Market (Bazaar)This Bazaar will be organized in the form of a craft village where craft products andpieces from different countries will be offered for sale. Visitors and tourist delegationswill be able to discover the diversity of handicrafts such as sewing and embroidery;traditional costumes; carpets and rugs; decorating, Qur’an binding and gilding; marbledpaper; architecture; mushrabiya; stucco colored glass; pottery and ceramics; silver andmetal crafts; and engraving that reflect the high level of cultural heritage which weredeveloped through the ages.The essential objective of the bazaar is to present to visitors and participants thecharacteristics of the traditional handicrafts in these countries so as to attract morevisitors, and even international institutions working in the field of design, architectureand heritage.ToursThe Muscat Municipality, Sultanate of Oman will organize tours for visiting the mostimportant archaeological sites and handicrafts locations in the country, in addition toartisans’ work sites etc.Free Exhibition Stands, and customs duty exemption on handicraftsproducts and facilities for their sale:Muscat Municipality, Sultanate of Oman, is pleased to provide the participating Statesand craftspeople with free exhibition stands, and offers customs duties exemption for theproducts that will be displayed in the exhibitions; and will allow the sale of theseproducts.2

The following folklore Group will be participating in the Muscat Festival:Kazakhistan Folklore Group, Daghistan Folklore Group and Al Quds Folklore Group.Daghistan Folklore Group3

Kazakhistan Folklore Group5

Al Quds Folklore Group8

Around 150 Artisans from nearly 32 countries from different places of the world aregoing to participate in the Muscat Festival. Most of them are innovators in their field ofspecialty.Daoud Sadek, Algeria,Ali Oukali, Algeria,10

Lallali Mounira, AlgeriaCostumes – Samia Ebrahimi, Algeria,11

Parvin Kazimov, Carpets, AzerbaijanHajimustafazadaHuseyn, Azerbaijan, Wood12

EBRU ART (MARBLING),Elvis Hajdarevic, Ebru, Bosnia & HerzegovinaAmila Smajovic, Bosnia & Herzegovina13

Massa, Textile, Cameroune14

Zainal Abidin Ben Haji Ibrahim, Batik, Brunei DarussalamAFRICAN TIE DYEEugenie Marthe Tony Epse Litet, Cameroune15

Tassa, Wood, CamerouneAli Akhmedov, Metal Crafts, Daghistan16

Gadshimusa Kishiev, Daghistan, Metal CraftsGuseyn Gasanov, Wood , Daghistan17

Faraj Al Deeb, Wood, EgyptSayid Hamid Mohamed, Wood, Egypt18

Zoya Brahimi, Iran, PotteryAli Taabodi, Iran, Ornamentation19

Kamran Arasteh, Iran, Metal CraftsAzam Amiri, Miniature, Iran20

Abdulla Senegani, Shoe-making, IranNaser Lotfi, Metal, Iran21

Jamal Al Akhras, Mosaic, JordanHind Maha Abla, Costumes, Jordan22

Abu Arar, Ceramic, JordanYergazy Issatayev, Kazakhistan, Metal23

Berik Alibay, Kazakhistan, JewleryKossova Lyudmila, Wood, Kazakhistan24

Akmataova Kulnar, Textiles, KhyrghyzstanMajid Al Mabrouk, Carpets, Libya,Abdullah Al Warak, silk textiles, Libya,25

Abdul Khaleq Al Sukni, Metals, Libya26

Norhaiza Bin Nordin, Wood, MalaysiaAssetou Gologo, Beads, Mali27

Dijjittiye Baba,Costumes, MaliKorotimi Traoeri, Textile, Mali,28

Adass Oufen, Metal, Mali,Mukhtar wild Ahmad Hada, Wood, Mauritania29

Ali Hlou, Costumes, Morocco31

Abdul Lateef Arjani, Gyps, Morocco,32

Abdul Rashid Qureshi, Camel Bones, PakistanManzoor Hussain, Shoemaking, Pakistan33

Tehmina Perveen, Costumes, PakistanMuhammad Ajmal Chishti, Glass Mosaic, Pakistan34

Muhammad Naeem Shahzad, Lacquer, PakistanBader Al Tamimi, Pottery, Palestine35

Anta Fall, Costumes, SenegalAminata Ba, Costumes, Senegal36

Wadji Saliou, Leather, SenegalWOOD WORKEl Hadj Dioum, Senegal37

Fatima Quesada, Furnishing, Spain,Enrique de Lucas Tortajada, Gass and Tiles, Spain,38

Nuria Raquel Conesa Caballero, Costumes, Spain,Luis Mendez Lopez, Jewlery, Spain,39

Luiza Faskhoutdinova, Embroidery, Tataristan,Ravkat Muhametshin, Jewlery, Tataristan,40

Karima Gamri, Gyps, Tunis,Karim Hkeimi, Leather, Tunis,41

Ibrahim Zein, Mosaic, Tunis,Ben Kilani Rafik, Jewlery, Tunis,42

Metin Kaya, Carpets, Turkey,Mahsum Baran, Silver Crafts, Turkey,43

Naciye Subasi, Illumination, Turkey,Ersoy Abut, Metal Models, Turkey,44

S. Goshayev, Jewlery, TurkmenistanMurad Sakhatov, Metal Crafts, Turkmenistan,45

Sserunuuma Bruno, ceramic/Pottery, UgandaEvelyn Namukasa, Bags and Necklaces, Uganda,46

Rustem Skybin, Pottery, Ukraine,Yunusova Hatice, Embroidery in gold, Ukraine,47

Elvira Osmanova, Textile, Ukraine,Kamol Mirzaev, Miniature, Uzbekistan48

Abdullah Abdurrazzakov, Wood, UzbekistanShayakubov Shailkham, Miniature, Uzbekistan,49

Yakubov Mirodil, Miniature, Uzbekistan,Nilufar Musadjanova, Silk hand embroidery, Uzbekistan,50

Muscat International Award forInnovation and Creativity in Crafts,Awards worth US$100.000Muscat, Sultanate of Omanon 3-23 February 2012IntroductionHandicrafts around the world consist of a rich range of remarkable innovations in variousfields such as decoration, carpets, sadou and kilim, mushrabiya, stucco colored glass,engineering designs, bookbinding, miniatures, traditional costumes and othermasterpieces that continue to stimulate effectively tourism and economy and highlightinnovations in the field of cultural heritage.Efforts to be made in order to revive this sector are among the priorities that should betaken into consideration to ensure the prosperity of this vital sector, including theimprovement of living conditions and social and economic situation of craftspeople, byinitiating periodic training programs for them and providing them with all requirementsof raw materials, as well as ensuring appropriate opportunities for the marketing of theirproducts. Innovation should be also encouraged by awarding the promising winners inorder to stimulate competition spirit, and thus ensure renewable innovations leading tothe emergence of new products in the handicrafts field of which we are proud of.This is why awards should be allocated to the innovators of artisans in order to stimulateand ensure continuity of creativity.Importance of the AwardThe importance of the award is that it will stimulate innovation spirit, encouragingartisans for more creativity and drawing attention on craftspeople and their important rolein preserving crafts heritage.Objectives: Taking measures that ensure originality and research, organization of crafts trainingand determination of the method of cooperation in this area. Developing these arts and increasing the young artisans’ innovative predispositionthrough competitive programs and incentives for variation and creativity, and thusachieving renewable handicrafts industries. Defining a practical policy to ensure innovation spirit in the crafts sector and comingup with a clear plan of action to revive this field, as it constitutes a support in thecultural, economic and touristic areas in the countries of the world. Improving artisans’ conditions of work and strengthening their innovative capacities.51

Raising the regional and international awareness on the importance of artisans byexhibiting their distinguished and winning products in this award. Publicizing the works of talented craftspeople of different regions, in order to createcooperation and exchange opportunities between world artisans in a way to allowthem to get acquainted with the works, experiences and techniques of each other. Improving the living conditions of artisans, and appreciating their efforts in thesociety as well as granting them with the appropriate position they deserve.Eligible works1 – Participants will have to present at least two pieces of their products: one completedproduct along with semi completed one to be finalized in front of the internationaljury members in order to show their skills.2 – Participation in the Award is open for all artisans provided the product is submittedfor the first time and has never been presented before.3 - Participants will have to provide comprehensive information about every presentedpiece, that is to say an overview on the origin, the materials used and the techniquesapplied.4 – Awards will be given to the artisans who make efforts to revive a rare skill.5 – Awards will be also given to the artisans who bring one of the best samples of theirworks, and show their skill in working during presentations phase.The value of the awardMuscat Municipality will grant awards worth US$100.000, which will be distributed toten handicrafts themes; each crafts theme will obtain three awards as follows: the firstaward worth US$5.000, the second worth US$3.000, and the third worth US$2.000, thatis to say a total of US$10.000 for each award. Ownership of the award-winning piecesgoes to Muscat Municipality, which will publicize them, conserve them in a specialmuseum and prepare a documentary catalog of the winning entries. The Jury willexamine the following characteristics in the crafts pieces: Excellence, Creative ConceptDesign and Invention in traditional Technique.1 - Carpets, Sadou and Kilims(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.0002 - Traditional Costumes and Embroidery(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.00052

3 – Metal Works including Jewelry and Silver Artifacts(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.0004 - Pottery and Ceramics(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.0005 – Wood-work(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.0006 - Architectural crafts(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.0007 – Paper-making and Ebru (Marbled Paper)(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.0008 – Stucco Colored Glass(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.0009 – Decoration, Miniatures, Gilding and Binding(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.00053

10 – Straw, Baskets and Bamboo Crafts(Three awards worth US$10.000):The 1 st award : US$5.000The 2 nd award : US$3.000The 3 rd award : US$2.000The JuryAn international jury consisting of craft experts will be formed to evaluate the artisans’works and hold meetings within the period indicated for the submission of craft pieces inorder to proceed with their selection.During the examination and inspection of the submitted works, the Jury will take intoaccount all the characteristics and technical features of each piece, and special attentionwill be given in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award.DurationThe submitted works will be examined during the "Muscat International Festival of Arts,Heritage and Creativity" that will take place during the period of 3-23 February 2012.Announcement of the winners’ names and the awards ceremonyResults will be announced on 22 February 2012 followed by an official ceremony tohonor the winners.Ownership of the Winning WorksWinning works will become the property of Muscat Municipality and will be displayed ininternational exhibitions; also, an award-winner’s album will be published.Importance of the awardThe importance of this award lies in the fact that it draws attention on an important aspectof the cultural heritage and makes it known at international and regional levels; as well asbringing together the works of artisans from distant and different regions, stimulatingcrafts people’s creativity in this field and make them feel the importance that is attachedto their works by the community so as to preserve this fertile heritage.54