Strengthening Handicraft Distribution Hubs Is a Strategy to Support Producers

The Deputy for Handicrafts and Traditional Arts at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts stressed the need to strengthen Nejatollahi Street as one of the country's main hubs for the supply and distribution of handicrafts. He described developing this corridor as an effective strategy for linking production capacity with the consumer market, supporting artisans, and improving producers' livelihoods, and emphasized the need for synergy among the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, municipal management, and sector stakeholders.

According to the report of Aria Heritage reporter, a meeting of handicraft activists and a field visit to Nejat Elahi street, Thursday 23 Mehr 1405, with the presence of Barzin Zarghami, Deputy of Handicrafts and Traditional Arts of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Morteza Rouhani, Mayor of Tehran District 6, Reza Shahmohammadi, Head of the Handicrafts and Old Objects Union, a group of members of the board of directors of this union, Mohammad Reza Suleimanfar, Mayor District 1, District 6, Deputy Cultural Heritage of Tehran Province and a group of artisans and craftspeople were held at Noorhayat Hotel.

crafts; The manifestation of Iran's historical and cultural identity

In this meeting, Barzin Zarghami, Deputy of Handicrafts and Traditional Arts of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, explained the place of handicrafts in the representation of Iranian identity, and considered this area as one of the most original manifestations of the connection between art, culture and historical memory of the Iranian nation.

Emphasizing that the Iranian identity is manifested in the weave of handicraft products, he said: Handicrafts are the whole fabric of Iranian culture and art. When you analyze the handicraft products, all of them are Iranian elements, Iranian history and a narrative that is Iranian behind them.

Referring to the distinction of handicrafts from many contemporary art forms, Zarghami added: Our most cultural and Iranian art is handicrafts.

The Deputy of Handicrafts and Traditional Arts of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, referring to the joint capacities of urban management and handicrafts activists, considered the synergy between the responsible institutions, artists and businesses to be an effective field for improving the status of this field and emphasized on the continuation of specialized meetings and the formation of a joint working group to follow up on the issues and proposals raised.

Divine salvation; The link between manufacturers and handicrafts market

Referring to the position of Nejat Elahi Street in the supply and distribution network of handicrafts in the country, Zarghami evaluated the strengthening of this axis as an opportunity to solve one of the structural challenges of this area, namely the limited access of producers to the sales market.

He clarified: If Nejat Elahi Street is strengthened as a center for the distribution of handicrafts in the whole country, one of the main problems of this area, i.e. the lack of access of producers to the market, can be solved and the economy of handicrafts and the livelihood of producers behind the scenes can be improved.

Referring to the distance between the origin of production and the economic power of the consumer market, the vice president of handicrafts and traditional arts considered it a fundamental necessity to support artists and provide an effective supply of their products, a necessity that can be fulfilled while strengthening the economic cycle of handicrafts and increasing the share of producers in the economic value of products.

Announcing his readiness to accompany joint programs in this field, he said: We are announcing our assistance in the field of handicrafts and we ask that you help us in this direction.

Region 6; The capacity to form an urban center for culture and art

Morteza Rouhani, the mayor of the 6th district of Tehran, also pointed out the concentration of academic, cultural and artistic capacities in this area, and emphasized the necessity of turning these capacities into a distinct identity in the capital's urban landscape.

He said: District 6 is an academic and cultural area, from Tehran University, Amir Kabir University and Modares University to the House of Artists and the Theater House. For this reason, we came to the conclusion that the climate of culture and art is region six.

The mayor of the 6th district of Tehran emphasized the need for coordination between the city administration and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage to strengthen this identity and added: If we take this path with the cooperation of Mr. Zarghami, anyone who comes to this region will only move in the direction of culture and art.

Referring to last year's experience of cooperation with the Vice-Chancellor of Handicrafts in the implementation of the "Agency of Art in the Urban Landscape" project, Rouhani said: "Last year, we started the project of agency of art in the urban landscape with the participation of architecture universities of the country."

He mentioned this experience as a basis for continuing the participation of universities, artists and urban management in improving the quality of the urban landscape and strengthening the presence of art in public spaces.

From a commercial center to a cultural and family-oriented destination

Referring to the necessity of increasing the presence of families in Nejat Elahi Street and the area of Villa Street, the mayor of Tehran's 6th district emphasized the need to move beyond the purely administrative and commercial model and move towards creating a lively, attractive space with cultural functions.

Stating that an important part of the economic activity of this area depends on office hours, he said: "It is more office here, because office workers buy from you." We have to make the family come to this street and in this direction, your help is needed.

Rouhani also pointed to the problems of businesses on Iranshahr Street and the decrease in the number of customers at night, emphasizing the need to use the surrounding capacities, including Warsaw Park, to increase the social and economic dynamics of this area.

He said: Iranshahr street is in trouble and the cafe owners of this area are complaining about the stagnation of their business, because this street has customers only during office hours and is quiet at night. We have to make up for this dead night with the presence of families and using the capacity of Warsaw Park.

Emphasizing that the economic development of Nejat Elahi street should be accompanied by improving the experience of the citizens, the mayor of Region 6 added: Handicrafts should be attractive during production, we should work both on the facade and inside the shops so that the production order is done in the same shop.

Supporting handicrafts in official relations and cultural interactions

Referring to the capacity of handicrafts to be more effective in official and cultural events, Rouhani called the selection of products from this field as a gift one of the ways to support artists and introduce Iranian art.

He said: We choose the official gifts of our professors and guests from handicrafts, because we are a region of culture and art, and if we give gifts other than handicrafts, we have questioned the motto of our region.

The mayor of Region 6 also pointed to the project under preparation "Employment and work at home", informed about the possibility of using the capacity of parks to develop this approach and said: A project titled "Employment and work at home" is being prepared, which will be announced soon. If we create a capacity in the parks, we will discuss this issue with you.

Abarkoh cedar; A proposal for symbolic representation of national identity

The mayor of the 6th district of Tehran suggested that the historical and cultural capacities of the country should be given more attention in the process of defining and promoting identity symbols.

Pointing to the Abarkoh cedar, he said: "Unfortunately, we have not defined the symbol of Iran correctly, and everyone says something; One carpet, one pottery. This is your job and we have to work on it.

Referring to the age of this ancient tree, Rouhani added: Abarkoh cedar is 4,500 years old; It bends against wind and storm but never breaks. Cypress is a symbol of martyrdom, resistance, standing and vitality and is the best symbol for Iran.

Linking crafts with education, young generation and Iranian identity

Referring to the educational capacity of region 6 and the presence of a large number of schools in this region, Rouhani considered the familiarization of students with authentic Iranian arts as one of the ways to strengthen the connection of the young generation with cultural heritage.

He said: Most schools are located in our region; Arrange a visit for the students to visit this street. Unfortunately, many of our children are not familiar with the original arts such as Dar Qali, and we must introduce these arts to them.

The mayor of Region 6 also pointed to the welcome of products that reflect elements of national identity in their design, and emphasized the capacity of handicrafts to connect artistic taste, national belonging and market needs.

Expressing the experience of seeing a product with the flag and map of Iran on Karim Khan Street, he said: I saw a mirror on Karim Khan Street with the flag and map of Iran printed on it. The seller said that it has become my best-selling product. Today, we can display the issue of national race, identity and religion in this street.

Rouhani also pointed to the weekly visits to the families of the martyrs and the donation of handicraft products during these visits, emphasizing the simultaneous capacity of these arts to strengthen cultural ties and provide economic support to artists.

He said: We visit the families of the martyrs every Monday and Tuesday, and during these visits we give a gift of handicrafts along with the image of that martyr, an approach that has both a cultural and an economic dimension.

In the end, the mayor of Region 6 emphasized the need to strengthen the bond between families and Nejat Elahi Street and said: We must make this area bond with the family. If the family comes to this street, they will definitely buy something, for example, a small mirror with the design of the Iranian flag is both a symbol of handicrafts and a suitable gift.