Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar is famous for its handicrafts and handloom products. Since the 14th century, it has been famous for its art and crafts tradition and heritage. Thousands of people who are artisans or craftspeople have their base here. This makes this city a flourishing art and craft market with a large number of direct connections with different artists and provides a space or venue for these artists to represent or exhibit art. Srinagar was one of the 49 cities selected worldwide by the UNESCO creative cities network.UNESCO creative cities network India includes cities like Jaipur, Mumbai etc.
What is the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities?
The UNESCO network of creative cities is a project launched by UNESCO in 2014 to promote cooperation among the cities. Creativity plays an important role in the development of the particular city. According to UNESCO, the cities under the creative cities network work unanimously, having one common objective of placing creativity and all the cultural industries together at the local level’s heart of the development plan to cooperate actively at an international level. UNESCO designated 49 cities as part of the creative cities network.UNESCO designates the creative cities based on seven criteria: Craft, Folk Art, Media Arts, Film Design, Gastronomy, Literature, and Music. Srinagar city was assigned as the creative city in Crafts and Folk art. This is the second city to get assigned this title after Jaipur. At the same time, Mumbai has been honoured in film, Chennai and Varanasi for their music, whereas Hyderabad for its gastronomy category.
Every year, applications need to be sent to UNESCO, where various cities across the globe put them under the UCCN project. In India, the ministry of culture applies for the applications. In 2021, four Indian cities, Kolkata, Indore, Gwalior and Srinagar, filled the applications through the Ministry of Culture. The ministry was not satisfied with the applications as they were not complete and forwarded the ones of Indore and Gwalior. Srinagar city also applied in 2018, but the application was then rejected. By this, UCCN provides not only global recognition but also funding. Srinagar becomes the sixth city to receive this recognition because the craft area has especially shown its significance in neighbourhood local area prosperity and the area’s capacity to create business open doors for the nearby populace through upgraded advertising and advancement drives. Furthermore, working with all various partners in expressions and artworks, the further reinforcing instructive and social organisations to secure and advance the city’s specialities legacy and inventiveness will be significant.
Process of Selecting City
Every year, UNESCO seeks applications from various cities globally to put them under the UNESCO creative cities network project. The applications are made by the ministry of culture in India. The basic norm is to announce two cities from each country. By joining UNESCO creative city Network, India will get global recognition. The cities commit to sharing their practices and partnerships with the public and private sectors. UNESCO also pledges to develop a hub for creativity and gives opportunities to professionals and creators in the cultural sector.
How Was Srinagar Selected as UNESCO Creative City Network?
Dr Abid Rashid Shah of Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), the Chief Executive officer, said that the cycle regarding the selection of Srinagar under the UNESCO Creative City Network was embraced and subsidised under the World Bank-financed Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project. This is the acknowledgement of the authentic expressions and artworks of Srinagar. Iftikhar Hakeem, Director, Technical, Planning and Coordination, JTFRP, said that the credit for fruitful selection should go to the Department of Industries, JTFRP, and the line divisions for taking up the assignment decidedly. He added that the advisors were likewise employed, and the work was taken up to satisfy all of the necessities.
Criteria to Be Selected Under Criteria for the City of Crafts and Folks
To be considered a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, the accompanying advances will be significant:
- Making a move to add to working on the neighbourhood living climate and working foundation for the innovative field concerned.
- Coordinating an exceptional spotlight on nearby craftspeople for the feasible turn of events;
- Empowering various gatherings outstandingly youngsters and, ladies and weak gatherings to foster their abilities in artworks and people craft;
- Advancing information trade, advancement and data spread in the innovative field of specialities.
Conclusion
Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar is famous for its handicrafts and handloom products. Since the 14th century, it has been famous for its art and crafts tradition and heritage. Srinagar was one of the 49 cities selected worldwide by the UNESCO creative cities network. UNESCO creative cities network India includes cities like Jaipur, Mumbai etc. The UNESCO network of creative cities is a project that UNESCO launched in 2004 intending to promote cooperation among the cities in which creativity plays an important role in the development of the particular city.