“Cultural Wealth of Azerbaijan” project

From October 24 to December 23, 2016, a joint project of the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO and Azerbaijan Carpet Museum entitled “Cultural Wealth of Azerbaijan” was organized in three stages. In the framework of the project, master classes conducted by experts from Germany, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan were held in Azerbaijan Carpet Museum.

The aim of the project was to recover the forgotten national traditions. Master classes on the revival of the forgotten textile, embroidery and traditional costumes were one of the programs of the project. The goal of the program was to preserve the handiworks for future generations, to build capacity in the field of restoration, and to create a restoration center that meets international standards. Master classes on the revival of the forgotten textile, embroidery and traditional costumes consisted of two parts. The first part consisted of trainings on how to store and restore textile, embroidery and traditional costumes in modern conditions. These master classes were conducted by Christine Mueller-Radloff, a professional restorer of the textile, embroidery and costume in the Dresden State Art Collections, and Sofya Martyanova, a restorer-artist of the State Research Institute of Restoration (Moscow).

The second part of the program was devoted to improving national embroidery traditions of textile. Master classes in the field were conducted by Guljan Iresh, Kyrgyz expert on national embroidery, Zeinelkhan Mukhamejan, Kazakh expert on national embroidery, and Madina Kasimbayeva, Uzbek expert on national embroidery.

Master classes on the revival of the forgotten textile, embroidery and traditional costume in the framework of the project “Cultural Wealth of Azerbaijan” continued for 41 days. Restorers and conservators of the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, employees of other cultural centers, students studying in these areas attended the master classes. Experts shared their practices and knowledge with the participants.

On December 23, 2016, the certificate presentation ceremony of the participants who attended the master classes in the framework of the project “Cultural Wealth of Azerbaijan” was held in Azerbaijan Carpet Museum.