Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum and the Executive Committee of the International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) have signed a cooperation protocol as Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev met with ICOC Academic Chair Alberto Boralevi and Editor-in-Chief of “HALI” Magazine Ben Evans.

Minister Garayev pointed out President Ilham Aliyev`s order to organize the 5th International Symposium on Azerbaijani Carpets in Baku next October. He stressed the importance of the event in promoting Azerbaijan’s ancient art of carpet-making.

The minister further mentioned that the Azerbaijani carpet and decorative arts were included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.

In his speech, Boralevi said the ICOC will assist Azerbaijan in organizing the 5th International Symposium on Azerbaijani Carpets.

Carpets occupy a preeminent place among all the examples of Azerbaijani craftsmanship. In 2010, the Azerbaijani carpet was proclaimed a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage by UNESCO.

Today, carpet weaving still continues in regions of the country, although the number of ready products has reduced. To preserve this tradition and revive Azerbaijan’s weaving traditions the country aims to develop open ten carpet production enterprises.

The process is expected to start in the first half of 2017, according to the Economy Ministry, while the preparation of “State Program of the Development of Carpet Weaving Craft” is over.

Azerbaijan’s Carpet Museum established in Baku in 1967, being the first carpet museum in the world is the very place that can familiarize all the interested with the unique examples of the national carpets. A new carpet museum, designed in the form of a rolled carpet, opened in the Baku Seaside Park in 2014 and all carpets were transferred to this museum.

The ICOC is dedicated to advancing the understanding of carpet and related textile arts, primarily of the eastern hemisphere.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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