Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization plans to hold a festival aimed at promoting the use of handicrafts in the construction industry, the ICHHTO head said.
Speaking in a meeting with a group of Tehran's real estate developers on Sunday, Ali Asghar Mounesan said the handicrafts sector has a lot to offer when it comes to improving the design and appearance of buildings.
"Handicrafts can play an effective role in boosting the prestige of our buildings," IRNA quoted him as saying.
Mounesan said his organization is planning to organize a sale of high-end handmade artworks.
"With your help, we can hold the first sale of high-quality handicrafts and we believe investment in this sector would bring you added value," he told the builders.
"You can play a significant part in ensuring the success of the event that would create mutual benefits for you and artisans."
Mounesan's deputy for export affairs, Pouya Mahmoudian, also addressed the meeting.
"We are ready to help forge a connection between the builders and handicraft producers," she said.
Mahmoudian pointed to the growing stature of Iranian handicraft on global markets, saying, "Our national handicrafts industry has undergone a revolution and we are an important player in international markets."
Mohammad Beheshti, the head of Research Center for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, stressed the need to help handicrafts find their ways back into people's everyday life.
"Crafts used to feature prominently in all aspects of our lives, including in the design of kitchenware and clothes, but they are now only regarded as ornaments," Beheshti said.
"We should believe in the capability of the handicraft industry to re-modernize."
