TEHRAN - The Head of the Research Center for the National Arts affiliated to the Cultural Heritage Organization, Majid Sharifzadeh, said: "To date over 3000 national artists have been identified in the country." According to Sharifzadeh, most of the country's national artists are active in traditional music, architectural arts and traditional plays.

Sharifzadeh added: "On this matter, a data bank for artists has been established in the country.

Artists are usually relegated in society, but they do manage to create new and original works. In recent years, our artists have not been the focus of attention and the number of people who pursue artistic studies or take up artistic skills has decreased." Recognizing the situation, he said the government has opened some workshops in cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Kashan, Kerman, Yazd and Birjand "to revive and preserve the traditional arts." These workshops, he added, will be opened in other cities of the country as well.