Iran’s Fourth International Handicraft Exhibition proved to be a major success, despite having a lower budget compared to last year.
With over 400 pavilions, artisans sold a grand total of 28 billion rials ($850,000) worth of arts and crafts, surpassing last year’s revenue of 12 billion rials ($363,000), IRNA reported.
Prior to the exhibition, organizers had predicted this year’s expo would break last year’s sales records.
The five-day exhibition, which opened on June 10, drew such large crowds that participants tried to negotiate an extension with the organizers to no avail. Considering the fact that the exhibition was only open six hours a day, the record-breaking feat becomes even more remarkable.
According to Pouya Mahmoudian, exports deputy at Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization, the organization tried to plan and promote the exhibition in such a way as to give the artisans more exposure and boost sales.
“The statistics prove our plans worked,” he said, adding that this year’s sales pleasantly surprised experts, even though they were expecting last year’s record to be broken.
The official said visitors pre-ordered 10 billion rials ($300,000) worth of premium handicraft, which was unprecedented.
He said a number of delegations from Japan, China, Oman, Russia and the Netherlands visited the exhibition and expressed eagerness to collaborate with Iranian artisans in future.
Impressed by Iranian handicrafts, Russian and Japanese diplomats said they hope that their countries would host exhibitions on Iranian arts and crafts.
For the first time in the exhibition’s history, a “handicraft clinic” was set up to answer technical questions.
“Visitors welcomed the addition of a handicraft clinic to the exhibition,” Mahmoudian said.
Artisans from every province took part in the exhibition, showcasing unique local art and craft. Calico, silver work, turquoise, enamels (both on pottery and on copper), leather, inlay work, tile painting, handmade pottery and copperware were some of the traditional Iranian arts and crafts on display.
Craftsmen from Lebanon, Turkey, India, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Algeria also participated in the annual exhibition.
