National training in traditional craftsmanship, design and entrepreneurships for safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and development of creative industries in Uzbekistan

The national training on traditional craftsmanship, design and entrepreneurship in Margilan took place from March 30th to April 8th, 2024 in the city of Margilan, Uzbekistan. The training was organized by UNESCO, with the support of the local authorities of Ferghana province and in close cooperation with the Hunarmand Association of Craftspeople and Folk Artists of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the Margilan Crafts Development Centre. 

The training aimed to safeguard and promote the intangible cultural heritage in Uzbekistan as well as develop creativity. In addition, the training helped to support the development of traditional craftsmanship in Uzbekistan through the improvement of craft quality and design.

The training program included theoretical sessions and provided broad understanding about historical development of traditional craftsmanship and modern tendencies in Uzbekistan, as well as practical sessions on traditional embroidery, ethno-fashion design and block-printing. One of the important components of the training was focused on entrepreneurship and business development in culture, particularly craftsmanship. 

60 participants from different regions of Uzbekistan had opportunity to acquire knowledge from national well-known experts, masters, and designer from Uzbekistan. The ultimate goal was to improve the livelihoods of local communities, including women and youth, by creating sustainable income-generating and job opportunities for them in the field of traditional culture and business development. In particular, it is hoped that the training leads to the creation of new businesses, increased productivity, and better employment opportunities, which can contribute to the overall economic growth and sustainable development in a country.

The training was organized within the framework of a UNESCO project funded by the European Union “Silk Roads Heritage Corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran – International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage”. The goal of the project is to strengthen capacities for safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage, raise awareness and promote the common cultural heritage on the Silk Roads, and use the heritage as a foundation for sustainable development, including through the development of sustainable heritage-based tourism.