Handicrafts: An Instigator of Change,   By Dalaa Zaarour -9A

Outline

       I.                        Handicrafts, the aesthetic sector back then, should be protected by governments at all costs by providing financial support, forming copies of old souks so that craftsmen practice their trade at stalls, and protecting the crafts market.

    II.                        A. To begin with, handicrafts are getting subject to danger by companies that produce the same craft but in a lower price, that’s why the government should support crafts financially through providing fiscal prop-ups for skill training, increasing the prices of mass production

1.     Showing how Norway supports its craftsmen and women

2.     Explaining how the cuckoo clock became viral in Germany

3.     Showing how mass production affected the quality of handicrafts and how KSA is preventing that from happening

                      B.         Besides that, preserving the cultural traditions and handicrafts can be obtained by forming replicas of old souks where craftsmen practice their trade, as well as composing exhibits for craftsmen to practice their skills.

1.     Highlighting how the KSA made a cultural festival to preserve crafts

2.     Emphasizing how Norway’s exhibition led to success

3.     Shedding light on the festivals held in India

      C. Another way the government should safeguard their precious crafts and heritages is by protecting the craft market through initiating non-governmental organizations, signing treaties or conventions regarding this topic, and building craft schools. 

1.     Talking about Imam Al Sadder’s accomplishments regarding protecting crafts

2.     Stating UNESCO’s role in protecting crafts

3.     Showing the significance of  Fletcher’s Crafts School

 III.                        All in all, handicrafts should be protected at all costs by all of the governments all around the globe and defended even by citizens that consider them as cherished things that represent them and protect them is by providing the financial support, forming old replicas of souks where craftsmen practice their trade at stalls, and protecting the cultural handicraft’s market.

Handicrafts: An Instigator of Change

          “Crafts make us feel rooted, give us a sense of belonging and connect us with our history. Our ancestors used to create these crafts out of necessity, and now we do them for fun, to make money and to express ourselves.” The preceding quote asserts that each new period of time and each generation need their own crafts as life is in constant alternation. Our ancestors created and considered them as tools of survival and, on the contrary, our generation is using them for fun, which is not wrong, but this current generation must accept what our ancestors have created in the past and how these crafts made life possible back then. Handicrafts are something good, but our government should play crucial roles to protect handicrafts. Handicrafts, the aesthetic sector back then, should be protected by governments at all costs by providing financial support, forming copies of old souks so that craftsmen practice their trade at stalls, and protecting the crafts market.

          To begin with, handicrafts are getting subject to danger by companies that produce the same craft but in a lower price, that’s why the government should support crafts financially through providing fiscal prop-ups for skill training, increasing the prices of mass production. There are many people who have Instagram pages that sell different types of crafts to gain. Norway is a country that cares about handicrafts in a way that it supports Norwegian craftsmen and craftswomen within the craft field in their online, national and international activities. Igshaan-Adam Material Traces used to be Norwegian Facebook page that sells the handmade crafts online, the government of Norway noticed how hardworking and talented the craftsmen and women on this page are, and in return, the government provided them with the raw material and the money to produce even more of the unique crafts. The “cuckoo clock” is a German craft in the Black Forrest. Thomas Altenburg is a German craftsman who lives in the Black Forrest; he has his own workshop and a store and produces cuckoo clocks. The German Ministry of Tourism then noticed his hard work and also did what Norway did; the ministry provided him with the raw material and financed him for about over the two thousand Euros in which he opened a small town company and initiated business in the Black Forrest. Mass production is the products made in large numbers by machines so that they can be sold at cheap prices. The crafts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are getting exposed to danger quality and quantity wise due to modern equivalents regardless of their endless beauty and elegance. That’s why KSA has shut down most of its modern crafting companies. Oman also increased the taxes and fees of the modern craft companies which led these companies to increase the prices of their harvests. This way, citizens would bring buying the crafts from the companies to an end and start buying the handmade products.

       Besides that, preserving the cultural traditions and handicrafts can be obtained by forming replicas of old souks where craftsmen practice their trade, as well as composing exhibits for craftsmen to practice their skills. Saudi Arabia initiated a cultural festival called the Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival which is now the most famous cultural event in Saudi Arabia; it was first organized by the King Abdullah bin Abed Al Aziz, it takes place each year and last for two weeks giving a true glimpse to the past. It portrays how the craftsmen practice their trade at stalls. They practice different types of handicrafts; they produce sandals, jackets, pouches, and bags from leather. Another example of that is Norway. Norwegian Crafts initiates exhibitions in collaboration with Norwegian and international institutions, curators and artists. The aim is to strengthen the position of Norwegian contemporary craft internationally, contribute to the development of the artists’ careers and stimulate further exchange across national borders in the field of crafts. India also is a country flourishing with handicrafts and handlooms. There are upcoming events taking place in different regions in India, two of them are the Indian Art Festival (IAF) and the Handicrafts and Handlooms Fair. IAF is a four-day event and is said to be the perfect blend of a modern and contemporary craft. This year, it will be hosted from the 20^th of January to the 12^th of February in Mumbai.  The event will create a dialogue between art collectors and artists in the presence of leading industry experts. The Handicrafts and Handlooms Fair will showcase the handicrafts, handlooms and various jute items including jewelry, statues, textiles, carpets, decoration pieces, bags, accessories, wall hangings, and fiber products. The exhibition will be a platform for artists and manufacturers to introduce their work and to do business. There is also a Delhi Fair next autumn and it’ll be Asia’s biggest handicrafts trade fair and will offer gifts and latest handicrafts from around the world such as stonework, jewelry, ceramics, and copper work. This is how craftsmen should be appreciated.    

Another way the government should adopt to safeguard its precious crafts and heritage is by protecting the craft market through initiating non-governmental organizations, signing treaties or conventions regarding this topic, and building craft schools.  Al-Imam Mussa Al-Sadder is one of the most important cultural activists in Lebanon. because of that, one must not forget how he initiated an NGO for women empowerment and protecting the Lebanese cultural market through teaching women dressmaking, embroidery, pottery, candle making, soap making, knitting, and tapestry weaving. All of that just to protect the local crafts market. Added to that, one also shouldn’t ignore the fact that the United Nation’s role in protecting a country’s craft market. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s efforts put into defending the craft stores. As such, UNESCO has initiated the World Heritage Convention in 1972.   The Convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage. The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programs, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community. It also encourages States Parties to strengthen the appreciation of the public for World Heritage properties and to enhance their protection through education and information program. This is why governments should work on building schools. Fletcher Crafts School is a bustling school with activities in over sixty-five courses. Guided by accomplished instructors, students aspire to learn a new craft or refine already acquired skills. This school is committed to providing high-quality education in crafts and arts. It aims to keep alive old traditions as well as teaching new techniques in a nurturing environment at a reasonable cost. It was also built or initiated by the United States to protect the crafts market through the skilled craftsmen and women that will graduate and open their own stores when they get older and more mature.

All in all, handicrafts should be protected at all costs by all of the governments all around the globe and defended even by citizens that consider them as a cherished things that represent them and protect them is by providing the financial support, forming old replicas of souks where craftsmen practice their trade at stalls, and protecting the cultural handicraft’s market. Hence one should know the importance of handicrafts and how does it grow a country. Protecting handicrafts is a win-win situation, and while at it one would also be contributing to the act of generating a unique, precious, inestimable, intermittent, and sporadic product. Making crafts is enticing because it mirrors several aspects of human nature. Henri Matisse was a hundred percent right when he quoted: “Creativity need courage.”