Preserving Shahrekord's Historic Identity Centered on Felt Art Requires Coordinated Efforts Among Agencies

Shahrekord – The head of the Shahrekord Islamic City Council, emphasizing the historical antiquity of felt-making in the city, said: Protecting native and national identity, supporting artists, and developing cultural infrastructure must be carried out in cooperation with urban management.

According to the report of Ambassador Arjan Mashaullah Yazidi, in the inauguration ceremony of the second national felt festival in Shahrekord, he said: felt art is a part of the historical and cultural identity of this city, which has its roots in the history of several thousand years of the region and has maintained its place in the individual and social life of the people over different generations.

Referring to the importance of handicrafts in preserving the identity of regions, he added: With the expansion of urbanization, increase in population and immigration, the need to pay attention to the components of national and local identity is felt more than in the past. Therefore, the protection of local arts such as felting should be considered as one of the axes of preserving the cultural heritage of Shahrekord.

Referring to the historical background of Iranian traditional arts and handwovens, the head of the Shahrekord Islamic Council stated: The historical works left from the past, including the Pazyrik carpet discovered in Russia, show the valuable background of woven and handwoven arts in Iran and the place of these arts in the cultural history of the country.

Pointing to the difficulties of the work of master weavers, Izadi noted: past generations have endured many hardships and spent years of effort to preserve this art so that it reaches the hands of today's generation. Now the question is what we should do to continue this legacy and pass it on to future generations.

Referring to the registration of Shahrekord as a national felt city in 2017, he continued: After this registration, in 1401, the Secretariat of the National Felt City was handed over to Shahrekord Municipality, and since then, the city management complex has taken steps in the direction of organizing and developing activities related to this craft.

The head of the Islamic Council of Shahrekord added: The activity of the secretariat, with the participation of university professors, researchers and activists in the field of handicrafts, has provided the basis for conducting studies and collecting research related to felt. These actions can help to know more precisely the background of this art and planning for its development.

Emphasizing the necessity of supporting artists and introducing felt art in the urban space, Ezadi said: the implementation of urban elements and wall paintings related to felt is one of the measures that have been taken in order to introduce this art and strengthen the cultural identity of Shahrekord.

He considered the role of the Shahrekord Islamic Council to be important in advancing these programs and stated: The members of the council have participated in the way of supporting handicrafts and strengthening the cultural identity of the city by concurring, holding expert meetings and presenting executive proposals to the municipality.

The head of the Islamic Council of Shahrekord emphasized the necessity of cooperation between the executive bodies and added: In order to preserve and develop the art of textile art, coordination between the Islamic Council of the city, the municipality, the governor's office, the governor's office, parliament members and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts is necessary. This cooperation can provide the basis for implementing more effective programs and removing the obstacles faced by activists in this field.

Appreciating the support of parliamentarians in pursuing the demands of Shahrekord, Izadi noted: supporting the city's cultural and handicraft capacities should be pursued with an expert and program-oriented perspective in order to improve the status of this craft at the national level.

In the end, he emphasized the importance of unity and empathy of the officials and stated: The goal of the urban management complex is to provide effective services to the people and move towards the development and excellence of Shahrekord as the center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. We hope that with mutual thinking, cohesion and participation of various institutions, the field of preserving cultural heritage, supporting artists and properly introducing the capacities of this city will be provided.