Support package unveiled to bolster handicrafts sector amid economic pressures

TEHRAN – Iran’s government outlined a support package to strengthen the handicrafts sector and preserve related jobs during a meeting with industry associations and entrepreneurs held on Saturday at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. 

Handicrafts artists participate in Intl. Holy Quran Exhibition

TEHRAN – Handicrafts artists are taking part in the 33rd International Holy Quran Exhibition, which is currently underway at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran, a provincial official said on Tuesday.

First national Irandokht festival highlights women in Zaribafi weaving in Isfahan

TEHRAN – The first national Irandokht festival, focusing on the role of women practicing the traditional weaving art of Zaribafi, was held on Feb. 21 in the ancient city of Isfahan.

Mazandaran exports 4,500 handicraft items to Uzbekistan and Germany

TEHRAN – Mazandaran province exported 4,500 handicraft items to Uzbekistan and Germany, a provincial official said on Saturday.

Iran’s Neolithic communities excelled in antler craft, research shows

TEHRAN - A recent archaeological study published in the journal Anthropozoologica sheds new light on the sophisticated craftsmanship and resource strategies of early human societies on the Iranian Plateau.

Zahedan hosting handicrafts exhibition

TEHRAN - An exhibition showcasing the capabilities of handicrafts producers, cooperatives and skills trainees opened on Saturday in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province, southeast Iran.

National framework set for integrated handicrafts value chain

TEHRAN – The Iranian government has approved a comprehensive national document to manage the production, distribution, marketing and export value chain of handicrafts, aiming to coordinate executive bodies and strengthen the sector’s role in the economy.

Minister backs global registration push for Anbaran kilim craft

TEHRAN - Iran’s minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts said on Saturday that the city of Anbaran in Ardabil province should pursue global registration for its kilim weaving tradition, citing the role of local women artisans and the sector’s economic potential.

National education platform for creative industries and handicrafts unveiled in Tehran

TEHRAN - Iran on Saturday unveiled the first phase of a national educational platform covering creative industries, handicrafts and library and museum skills at the Malek National Library and Museum in downtown Tehran.

Ilam handicrafts displayed at exhibition in Iraq’s Kut

TEHRAN – Artisans from Iran’s western Ilam province have taken part in a handicraft’s exhibition in Kut, the capital of Iraq’s Wasit province.

Iranian artisans to showcase handicrafts at Muscat Nights

TEHRAN – A group of Iranian artisans will present a wide range of traditional handicrafts and visual arts at Muscat Nights 2026, a month-long cultural festival to be held in the Omani capital from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, organizers said.

Ilam province expands handicraft exports to Persian Gulf markets

TEHRAN - Iran’s western province of Ilam has begun exporting its handicrafts to the Persian Gulf littoral countries, marking a new phase in efforts to expand international markets for locally made products, a provincial official said on Sunday.

Iran’s Ilam, Iraq’s Karbala discuss joint tourism exhibition

TEHRAN - Iranian and Iraqi officials have reached an initial agreement to hold a joint handicrafts and tourism exhibition in Iraq, Ilam’s cultural heritage chief said, following talks between provincial authorities.

Iran-Uzbekistan cultural ties seen as opening markets for Iranian handicrafts

TEHRAN – Uzbek artist and carpet researcher Farrokh Manhal said on Thursday that deep historical and cultural links between Iran and Uzbekistan provide a strategic basis for expanding cultural diplomacy and markets for Iranian handicrafts in Central Asia.

Iranian artists showcase traditional arts in India exhibitions

TEHRAN - Iranian artists are presenting traditional arts at a series of exhibitions in India under a cultural memorandum of understanding between Shiraz’s Setaiesh art house and the Jaipur Art Summit institute.

By Afshin Majlesi

An inside look at Gorgan’s tribal festival

The 17th International Festival of Tribal Culture, scheduled to take place in Gorgan, the capital of Iran’s Golestan province, from Dec. 16 to 19, is often described as a celebration. But to see it only as a cultural event is to miss its deeper significance.

Ilami artisans participate in handicraft exhibition in Iraq

TEHRAN--Ilami artisans have recently participated in a handicraft exhibition in the Iraqi city of Kut, Wasit province, said Head of Ilam Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Farzad Sharifi.

Zagros women wear Golvani, a scarf with 3,000-year-old history

TEHRAN—A customary headscarf of Lor women called ‘Golvani’ is not just a piece of clothing. It is a combination of history, veil, and identity that has a record of 3,000 years in Zagros land.

Iran lifts export restrictions on handmade backgammon boards

TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have lifted export restrictions on handmade backgammon boards, a move officials say will open new international markets, strengthen craft-based employment, and support the country’s traditional artisans.

Pottery research center opens in Hamedan

TEHRAN – A specialized pottery research center has recently been inaugurated within the Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan to strengthen links between academia and the pottery industry, a provincial official said on Saturday.

Persian handicrafts on show at Shanghai Intl. Import Expo

TEHRAN – Several Iranian companies are participating in the 2025 Shanghai International Import Expo, which runs through November 10, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts announced on Thursday.

Mostazafan Foundation, tourism ministry sign agreement to boost jobs and economic empowerment

TEHRAN – Iran’s Mostazafan Foundation and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts have signed an agreement aimed at promoting economic empowerment and creating sustainable jobs.

Quranic-themed handicraft exhibit underway in Sanandaj

TEHRAN — A handicrafts exhibition showcasing various objects mainly with a Quranic theme is currently underway in Sanandaj, the capital of Kordestan province, western Iran.

Deputy minister congratulates artisans for success at Uzbekistan handicrafts festival

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy minister for handicrafts and traditional arts congratulated Iranian artisans on Tuesday for winning top awards at an international handicrafts festival held in Kokand and Rishtan, Uzbekistan.

Iran calls for closer cultural, economic cooperation with Bashkortostan through handicrafts

TEHRAN — Iran’s deputy minister for handicrafts and traditional arts said on Saturday that handicrafts can serve as a tool for developing the creative economy and cultural diplomacy, proposing joint initiatives with Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan.