The International Festival of Gold Embroidery and Jewelry has launched on 21 May in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The event will run through the 25 May.
The purpose of the festival aimed at presenting and promoting the rich variety of Uzbek national handicrafts and its unique samples, developing international exchange of experience in this regard, and the further development of international cooperation.
Bukhara has been one of the cultural centers of Uzbekistan with developed handicrafts for the centuries, which is a reason why the festival is symbolically organized in the city. Handicrafts and various areas of folk applied arts were mainly developed in the ancient city of Bukhara in the past, particularly gold embroidery and jewelry were developed at a high level.
Today, Bukhara is still a center for Uzbek traditional crafts, as the craftsmanship is passed over from generation to generation, thus keeping the golden secrets within a dynasty and family. Various types of handicrafts including silk carpet weaving, pottery, chasing, gold embroidery, jewelry, embroidery, wood carving still keep expanding and developing in modern Bukhara today.
Not only local representatives of the handicraft traditions, but also many international guests and participants will be attending and participating in the event this year. Thus, The International Festival of Gold Embroidery and Jewelry will be attended by 288 artisans from all regions of Uzbekistan, including 110 jewelers, 37 masters of gold embroidery, 44 embroiderers, 97 craftsmen operating in various areas of handicraft.
Among international attendees will be 221 foreign participants from 58 countries of the world, including 112 artisans. It is expected that 9 guests of honor, 4 high-ranking foreign statesmen will also take part in The International Festival of Gold Embroidery and Jewelry held in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
Moreover, 33 foreign scientists from 22 states and 20 Uzbek scientists are also expected to participate in the scientific and practical conference held within the framework of the festival. The topic of the conference will be dedicated to “Prospects for the development of traditional gold embroidery and jewelry art”.
Other events planned within the framework of the festival include solemn processions of the festival participants, an exhibition and sale of products of local and foreign artisans, press conferences on the holding and results of the festival, the Bukhara Fashion days fashion week, folk festivals, performances of puppeteers and tightrope walkers, concert programs of regional folklore groups and cultural departments. Uzbek Pilav competitions and master classes by local and foreign artisans, presentation of the books “Jewelry and gold embroidery art of Uzbekistan” and “Gold embroidery art”, excursions to famous gold embroidery and jewelry workshops of Bukhara are also among the list of event as a part of the festival.
The festival events will be widely covered and broadcast by more than 200 representatives of local and foreign mass media, which includes 14 foreign journalists accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and permanently operating in Uzbekistan.
This year the city of Bukhara was also awarded the status of the City of Handicrafts by The World Council of Artisans.The award ceremony by the World Council of Craftsmen to issue a certificate for the status of the World City of Craftsmen is also going to take place. The title of the World City of Craftsmen was established in 2014 and so far 30 cities around the world have been awarded it.
The festival will have a beautiful closure with a gala concert, where the winners and prize-winners of the International Festival of Gold Embroidery and Jewelry will participate.
