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"The reorganization of the Cyprus Handicraft Service was born out of our anxiety to rescue our intangible cultural heritage, to revive it, to highlight it and develop it as an area of economic activity with prospects," said the Minister of Commerce, Natasha Pileidou, at the event to review the work of the Cyprus Handicraft Service in the years 2020 - 2022.
The event was held on Monday afternoon at the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, where the activities of the Cyprus Handicraft Service during the last two years were presented, a few weeks before the Service was transferred to the newly established Deputy Ministry of Culture. This was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Cyprus Handicrafts Service and ANAD, for the provision of model training programmes for unemployed people interested in pursuing a career in handicrafts.
In her address to the event, the Minister referred to the reorganisation and modernisation of the Cyprus Handicraft Service and noted that the redesign of the strategy for this purpose "is not only about what handicraft is and how handicrafts are produced, but also about how best to showcase them, as well as how to inspire young people to become more involved in the craft sector, either as employees, as customers, or as proud Cypriots who understand the value of Cypriot crafts."
He then referred to actions planned in six pillars for the period 2020-2026. He stressed that the focus of the actions is on the craftsmen themselves, saying that "the biggest risk we perceived was that craftsmanship would die because of the lack of successors, as is the case, for example, with Lefkari embroidery". She referred to pilot training programmes for embroidery in Lefkara and weaving in Gouri, which started during the pandemic, in which 14 young embroiderers participated and continue to be trained, while producing items promoted by the Cyprus Handicraft Service. Pileidou said that after the renewal of the Service's corporate identity, with the creation of a new logo inspired by traditional embroidery, the next step is to further upgrade the Service's shop in Nicosia, following its recent renovation, and noted that with the passage of the Service to the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture, an interactive space suitable for educational activities could be created. She also mentioned that the creation of a modern website and E-shop is also planned.
In the context of the report, the Minister referred to a series of international activities, such as the inclusion of the Cyprus Craft Service in the international organisation World Craft Council Europe and its representation at the opening of the Homo Faber exhibition in Venice of the Michelangelo Foundation with Cypriot master craftsmen. He also mentioned the participation of works by five Cypriot artists in the 5th Biennale Revelations at the Grand Palais Ephemere at "Le Banquet" in Paris and synergies between Visual Artists, Designers and Architects, such as with the curators of the Cypriot participation in the 17th International Architecture Biennale held in Venice.
He also noted that in order to promote the works, moves are made to offer Cypriot Creators and Artists' creations as gifts to official visitors to Cyprus, while objects are also placed in prominent places in major hotels in Cyprus or objects are made available for conference tourism. He noted that handmade Lefkari belts were made by master embroiderers of Lefkari embroidery and were offered free of charge to adorn the formal attire of the young musicians of the Youth Symphony Orchestra, while handmade Christmas ornaments were used for the decoration of airports.
He also announced that a new sponsorship scheme for craftsmen is in the process of being written, in collaboration with the University of Cyprus, "so that people involved in crafts can be subsidised and practise their craft as a profession, this will open up prospects because young people will be able to take up crafts to earn a living".
Finally, he stressed that master craftsmen, in collaboration with designers and visual artists, can elevate the Cypriot product so that it can emerge as a means of economic activity and entrepreneurship. He expressed confidence that the people of the Service will continue to work tirelessly at the Ministry of Culture to carry out their mission. "We believe that we will deliver a Service more ready than ever to play its role," the Minister said, adding that the aim is that crafts will always have an interface with the business world and the commercial aspect.
In this direction, she said, the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Cyprus Handicrafts Service and ANAD, for the provision of model training programmes in three, in the first phase, traditional techniques, ceramics, weaving and embroidery, also contributes to this direction. As Mrs.Pileidou stressed, this is a decisive step in the great effort made in the last two years for the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage of our country and for the promotion of handicrafts as a professional career.
The training programmes will be addressed to the unemployed, immigrants and people who are in closed structures, such as.The training programmes, the Minister explained, were designed on a scientific basis by the University of Cyprus, within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2021. At the same time, the Cyprus Handicraft Service has been approved by ANAD as a Vocational Training Centre and Structure, in order to be able to proceed with the implementation of the training programmes.
In his address, Dimitris Kittinis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ANAD, pointed out the crucial role of the launch of cooperation with the Cyprus Handicraft Service for the enrichment of the human resources of Cyprus and congratulated the Minister for identifying the gap and taking this initiative for the preservation and further development of the traditional professions of the country. He pointed out that "the preservation of traditional trades and at the same time the integration of unemployed people into employment require a collective effort, which is sealed by the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the AnAD and the Cyprus Handicraft Service."
The aim, as Mr. Kitenis, is the potential of Cyprus "to respond effectively to the ever-changing conditions of the economy and the labour market and to contribute to enhancing competitiveness, improving the productivity of businesses and organizations." He added that three training programmes in the arts of embroidery, weaving and ceramics will be implemented as part of the development of the project, explaining that, depending on the needs of the market, ANAD is willing to implement more programmes with the same or different subject matter.
The event was also welcomed by the Director of the Cyprus Handicraft Service, Maria Anaxagorou, who pointed out that, in addition to preserving the memory, "the current goal is to better promote and highlight Cyprus Handicrafts and the individuals behind each creation" and welcomed the fact that "many people support and want to support even more the efforts of the Cyprus Handicrafts Service and to be part of synergies between the public and private sectors".
As part of the event, the short films created by international fashion curator, writer and editor at large of Vogue Greece, Filep Motwary, were presented, which show the evolution of three traditional arts, embroidery, ceramics and weaving.
Source: CNA
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