Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
Exhibitor
The past, present and the future collide as women artisans at Sharjah-based Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council forge a symbiotic relationship between craft, heritage, and the modern economy to nurture the rich handcrafting traditions in the MENASEA and Central Asian regions.
Through the Council’s pioneering initiatives, the age-old techniques are reinvented and revitalised, transforming local materials into unique artistic expressions ideal for contemporary lifestyles. In doing so, the knowledge and heritage craft practices handed down through generations are constantly being enriched by a new generation of craftswomen to support communities and are broadening the craft vocabulary as it aims to safeguard this precious knowledge and know-how for the future.
Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, has been driving forward its vision of a valued artisan economy by empowering women and strengthening livelihoods to enhance the socio-economic empowerment of women in the region through craft.
In line with its mission to enrich, revitalise and preserve local crafts in a sustainable and economically viable manner, the Council has been forging cross-cultural collaborations through initiatives that are targeting everyone from children and youth to aspiring artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and established artisans, and positioning the tangible and intangible heritage of the region at the future of the creative industry.
