One of the key achievements of the current WCC AISBL Presidency has been the significant growth of the WCC-World Craft City program. We are proud to announce that this initiative now includes 66 accredited craft cities worldwide. During the period 2021-2024, we have welcomed 16 new craft cities into our network, strengthening the global craft community.
In 2024, we added four new craft cities to the WCC-World Craft City program: Srinagar (India), Cheongju (South Korea), Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom), and Istaravshan (Tajikistan). These cities not only enhance their own recognition but also contribute to the future acknowledgment of crafts on the world stage.
The WCC-World Craft City program currently represents a variety of cities from different regions. In the Asia Pacific Region, we proudly recognize 49 accredited craft cities. The Latin America Region has 11 cities, while Europe Region includes 6 cities in our network. This distribution reflects the wide range of craft traditions and cultural heritage found around the world.
We are also pleased to announce several pending applications for evaluation that could expand our network further. Among these is Almaty (Kazakhstan), which is being considered as a WCC-World Craft City for Jewelry and Musical Instrument Making. This city was evaluated in August 2024, and we are awaiting the evaluation report for designation approval. Other applications include Bat Trang and Van Phuc in Vietnam, both seeking recognition as WCC-World Craft Villages for Ceramics and Silk, respectively. Additionally, Sharjah (UAE), has applied for recognition as a WCC-World Craft City for Talli, while applications from Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA); Durban, South Africa; Timbuktu, Mali; Birmingham (UK); and Manchester (UK) are also pending. We hope this network continues to grow across the other regions of WCC AISBL, creating connections among craft cities and supporting artisans and craft communities.
In July 2024, the WCC AISBL President issued the newly developed WCC-World Craft City Certificates to government officials of the 66 accredited craft cities. These certificates, were sent out by the WCC AISBL Secretariat, demonstrate our commitment to recognizing and promoting the unique crafts of these cities.
For more details about the WCC-World Craft City program, please visit our website: www.wccinternational.org/craft-cities.
Together, let us continue to celebrate the diversity of global crafts and support the artisans who keep these traditions alive.
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