World Crafts Forum | WCC International

SECOND WORLD CRAFTS FORUM

Crafts in the Creative Economy

Kuwait, 1–3 February 2026

The Second World Crafts Forum, held in Kuwait from 1 to 3 February 2026, marked a defining moment in the global repositioning of crafts within the creative economy. Convened under the theme “Crafts in the Creative Economy,” the Forum brought together policymakers, cultural leaders, artisans, scholars, and institutional representatives from over 20 countries.

The Forum reaffirmed that crafts are not peripheral cultural expressions, but foundational pillars of sustainable development, cultural continuity, social inclusion, and economic resilience. The adoption of the Kuwait Declaration on Crafts in the Creative Economy represents a shared commitment to embedding crafts within structural development agendas at local, national, and international levels.

Context and Objectives

The Forum was convened to:

Reposition crafts within contemporary creative economy frameworks
Address equitable participation and fair value chains
Strengthen governance, institutional coordination, and city-level implementation
Advance sustainability, ethical digital transformation, and climate-conscious production
Foster interregional cooperation, particularly between Arab States and Asia

The event underscored the role of the World Crafts Council (WCC AISBL) as a global platform for dialogue, policy exchange, and coordinated action.

Opening Ceremony and Institutional Participation

The Forum was formally inaugurated by Dr. Mohammad Khaled Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), Kuwait.

Institutional partners included:

National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (Kuwait)
Al Sadu House
UNESCO

The closing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, Governor of Kuwait City, reflecting high-level national recognition of crafts as strategic cultural assets.

International Craft Market and Exhibition

International Craft Market

An International Craft Market featuring approximately 30 local and international artisans was inaugurated as part of the Forum programme. The market promoted:

Ethical trade and transparent pricing
Direct artisan–consumer engagement
Sustainable livelihood models
Cultural exchange through practice

Exhibition: 62 Years of the World Crafts Movement

A commemorative exhibition celebrated six decades of the World Crafts Council’s global work. A special tribute honoured Dr. Ghada Hijjawi Qaddumi, former President of WCC, showcasing diplomatic gifts and craft masterpieces symbolizing global solidarity through craft.

Governance Meetings and Institutional Outcomes

In parallel with the Forum, the WCC AISBL Board Meeting and 20th General Assembly were convened.

Key outcomes included:

Re-election of Mr. Sa’ad Al-Qaddumi as President (2026–2029)
Extension of the Board’s term by one year to facilitate restructuring
Confirmation of the transition toward seven global regional structures

Board Appointments

Sheikha Bibi Al Sabah — Regional Director, Arab States
Dr. Xu Niansha — Regional Director, Asia
Ms. Nafanua Lafitaga Mafaufau-Peters — Regional President, Oceania
Dr. Darlie Koshy — Vice President, WCC AISBL
Prof. Somesh Singh — Director General, WCC AISBL

These decisions strengthen regional governance and operational coherence.

Masterclasses and Knowledge Exchange

On Day Two, masterclasses were conducted at Al Sadu House, offering participants immersive exposure to traditional techniques and contemporary practice.

On Days Two and Three, the National Library of Kuwait hosted nine thematic panels which examined interconnected dimensions of crafts within the creative economy:

Crafts, Compassion & Commerce
Crafts in the Creative Economy: Policy, IP & Markets
Craft, Identity & Soft Power
From Policy to Praxis
Arab States’ Perspectives on Innovation
Crafts as Living Heritage
Technology, Ethics & Digital Transition
Sustainable Fashion & Craft Futures
Markets, Livelihoods & Equitable Value Chains

The discussions moved beyond preservation narratives to address structural economic integration, governance frameworks, market reform, climate responsibility, and digital ethics.

The Kuwait Declaration

The Forum culminated in the adoption of the Kuwait Declaration on Crafts in the Creative Economy.

The Declaration affirms that:

Crafts are integral to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Artisans are custodians of knowledge and economic actors.
Policy frameworks must embed crafts within urban planning, tourism, education, and procurement systems.
Intellectual property mechanisms must be accessible and community-sensitive.
Fair value chains and ethical markets are essential to sustainable prosperity.
Digital transformation must be ethically governed.
Arab–Asia cooperation is central to a balanced and multipolar creative economy.

As articulated by WCC leadership:

“We are not just preserving the past; we are crafting the future. The Kuwait Declaration is our promise to every artisan that their skill is the backbone of our shared global heritage.” The Declaration calls upon governments, cities, institutions, and international organizations to operationalize these commitments.

The Declaration calls upon governments, cities, institutions, and international organizations to operationalize these commitments.

Strategic Significance

The Second World Crafts Forum demonstrated that crafts function simultaneously as:

Cultural heritage systems
Economic ecosystems
Instruments of social cohesion
Drivers of sustainable and circular production
Platforms for international dialogue and cooperation

Kuwait’s leadership in hosting the Forum positions it as a convening hub for heritage-led development and cross-regional collaboration.

Conclusion

The Second World Crafts Forum represents a structural shift in global craft discourse. It affirmed that crafts are not relics of the past but dynamic engines of cultural identity, economic resilience, and sustainable futures.

The Kuwait Declaration now serves as a guiding framework for implementation—linking heritage, markets, policy, and ethics in a coherent and action-oriented roadmap for the global creative economy.