TEHRAN- Training courses in various areas of handicrafts are set to be offered in prisons across the western province of Kordestan, the provincial tourism chief has said.

The courses aim to create job opportunities for released prisoners as well as serve as a source of income for those currently incarcerated, Mansour Mehrzad explained on Sunday.

Efforts have been made to secure a booth to exhibit the products crafted by prisoners at both domestic and international handicraft exhibitions, he added. 

“Our aspiration is that these activities and endeavors not only provide handicraft training for prisoners but also extend the opportunity to their families,” he noted. 

In October 2020, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts signed a memorandum of understanding with the Prisons, Security, and Corrective Measures Organization to create jobs and make income for prisoners.

The MOU also aimed at implementing special educational and promotional programs, identifying talented prisoners, and improving their social status.

As mentioned by the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the value of Iran’s handicraft exports stood at $400 million during the first ten months of the past Iranian calendar year 1401 (Mar. 21, 2022—Jan. 20, 2023). “Compared to the same period a year earlier, the figure represents some 30 percent growth.”

At present, a total of 13 cities and three villages in Iran have been registered by the World Council of Handicrafts as “world cities of handicrafts”. The World Crafts Council is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that was founded in 1964 to promote fellowship, foster economic development through income-generating craft-related activities, and organize exchange programs, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions.

Iran ranks first globally for the number of cities and villages registered by the World Crafts Council. For instance, Shiraz is named a “world city of [diverse] handicrafts”, Malayer is a global hub for woodcarving and carved-wood furniture, while Zanjan has gained the title of a “world city of filigree”.

In addition, the ancient city of Shiraz was chosen to host the 39th General Assembly of the World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) in May 2023. Shiraz has a remarkable amount of handicraft pioneers. With an average age of 70, some of these pioneers are still active at their workshops. The occupational records of about 100 pioneers are collected and are annually praised by the custodians of the WCC General Office.

SAB/