h+h cologne

h+h Cologne 2024: Empowering Handicraft Industry

The h+h Cologne 2024 International Fair, hosting 300 participants from 40 nations and drawing around 12,000 trade visitors from 78 countries, has effectively reinforced its position as the foremost global gathering for the handicraft sector. This event served as a testament to the thriving nature of the industry, where creativity and innovation intersect with tradition.

The overarching theme of “Creative Empowerment” at h+h Cologne 2024 reflects a commitment to bolstering the sustainability and growth of the handicraft trade. The fair introduced novel strategies and knowledge-sharing platforms aimed at addressing the evolving challenges within the industry. Through a comprehensive program featuring 60 sessions covering pertinent topics such as industry trends, entrepreneurship, and marketing strategies, attendees were equipped with valuable insights to navigate the ever-changing landscape.

Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, expressed optimism about the long-term impact of the fair, stating, “With our new zone concept and the key theme Creative Empowerment, we are setting important impulses that will support the industry long-term and substantiate our position as the leading B2B platform.” This sentiment was echoed by Hedi Ehlen, Executive Director of Initiative Handarbeit, emphasizing the vital role of collaboration between the fair and industry stakeholders in advancing the sector.

Following three days of fruitful interactions, exhibitors from 40 nations reflected on a successful event. Creative products and services were showcased to an international audience, with notable growth in participation from countries such as Canada and Japan. With a substantial presence of foreign exhibitors and trade visitors, h+h Cologne 2024 reaffirmed its significance as a global hub for the handicraft industry, poised to drive innovation and foster international collaborations.

For more information, visit the event’s official website (click).

Marjane Satrapi Unveils Olympic Tapestry

Marjane Satrapi Unveils Olympic Tapestry

A nine-meter-tall Olympic-themed tapestry by artist and author Marjane Satrapi was unveiled in Paris on Tuesday, March 12, ahead of the Olympic Games which commence on July 26.

Split into three panels, the wool tapestry depicts a javelin thrower, a skateboarder, a breakdancer, and two athletes leaping towards each other underneath the arch of Paris’s Eiffel Tower. Breakdancing and skateboarding are two of the most recent additions to the modern Olympic Games: skateboarding debuted at the 2020 Olympics (held 2021) in Tokyo, and breakdancing will make its first appearance this year in Paris. The two central figures represent the parity between men and women in competitive sports.

Satrapi was born in Rasht, Iran, in 1969 and grew up in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution. She settled in Europe in her 20s, and currently lives in Paris. An outspoken supporter of women’s rights, she told Publishers Weekly in 2023: “If you have a voice, if you are somebody who people will actually listen to, then you have to [raise awareness]. But you can’t talk too much, either. Too many words equals zero. I calculate when I can be efficient.”

Satrapi catapulted to fame with her graphic novel Persepolis (2000). The autobiographical coming-of-age story was later adapted for film in 2008, earning Satrapi an Academy Award nomination. “I’m finally considered French!” she told press after being entrusted with the tapestry project.

According to Satrapi, she received the Olympic commission over the phone. “When I got the call, I thought it was a hoax, but it wasn’t. I was very delighted, very honored, very happy, but also very stressed,” she said.

The tapestry took three years to create in collaboration with artisans attached to France’s Mobilier National. The triptych was woven by the team at the Gobelins Manufactory, a historic tapestry factory established in the 17th century which worked for the French monarchy from the rule of Louis XIV. The Mobilier National is the administrator for the Gobelins and Beauvais Manufactories.

The 132-pound tapestry was unveiled at the Mobilier National and will be exhibited to the public at the Hotel de la Marine from June 21. The installation will travel to Nice (which will host the Winter Olympics in 2030) after the Paralympic Games conclude in Paris in September. The first part of the triptych was unveiled at the Manufacture de Beauvais last March, 500 days before the start of the Paris Games.

Other cultural events designed to coincide with the Games include the exhibition “Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy” at the Louvre. The museum has come under scrutiny for an entry fee hike ahead of the influx of tourists expected to visit the French capital for the Olympics.

Source: artnet

tourism sustainability

UN: Global benchmark for sustainable tourism

UN Tourism has introduced a groundbreaking Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST), now adopted by all 193 UN Member States. Led by Austria and Spain, with collaborative efforts from Saudi Arabia and Seychelles, this framework provides a comprehensive approach to assess tourism’s economic, social, and environmental impacts. Endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission, it signifies a historical milestone towards standardized measurement methodologies. The MST’s development involved a seven-year process with contributions from over 40 countries and 30 international organizations. Looking ahead, the Commission supports the development of an implementation program and calls for international donor support. The framework’s significance was highlighted in a high-level event co-organized by Austria, Spain, and UN Tourism, emphasizing its role in evidence-based policymaking. Pioneering experiences from Mexico, the Philippines, and Canada showcased the power of integrating data for more meaningful insights into tourism. For more information, visit unwto.org.

To read more about sustainable tourism, you can refer to the article [Sustainable Tourism: The Future of Travel] on our site.

women day

UN Tourism Urges #InvestInWomen for Equality

As the globe commemorates International Women’s Day on March 8, UN Tourism is amplifying its call to “invest in women” to expedite progress towards gender parity within the tourism sector.

Despite notable achievements by women in tourism, disparities persist as they are disproportionately underrepresented in leadership roles, encounter hurdles in career advancement, and face constraints in accessing education and training opportunities.

This year’s focal point, encapsulated by the theme #InvestInWomen, underscores the imperative for substantial investments to bridge the anticipated annual deficit of USD 360 billion in funding. This funding shortfall poses a significant obstacle to realizing the overarching gender equality objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 – aimed at attaining gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

The potential dividends of heightened investment in women are substantial. Studies indicate that narrowing gender disparities could augment GDP per capita by 20% and generate nearly 300 million employment opportunities in the global economy by 2035.

Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, underscores the significance of International Women’s Day as an occasion to assess progress and emphasize the substantial investment required to achieve gender parity within the tourism domain. He asserts, “While certain countries have begun to reap the benefits of prior investments, additional commitments are imperative to unlock fresh prospects for economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and sustainable advancement.”

In the lead-up to International Women’s Day, UN Tourism conducted a series of webinars across diverse global regions, rallying governments, businesses, civil society entities, and individuals to undertake tangible measures in bolstering investments in women and fostering gender equality within the tourism sector. These actionable steps encompass:

• Enforcing policies and initiatives conducive to gender equality and women’s empowerment within the tourism sphere, encompassing equitable remuneration, educational access, training avenues, and leadership prospects.
• Extending support to women-owned businesses, enterprises, and initiatives embedded within the tourism value chain.
• Cultivating partnerships and fostering collaboration to propel gender equality and women’s empowerment in tourism, spanning local, national, and international scopes.

Source: unwto.org

rural tourism

UN Tourism Chief Visits Iran

The Secretary-General of UN Tourism has concluded an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Zurab Pololikashvili led a high-level delegation to the country to join the official inauguration of the Tehran International Tourism Exhibition and for a series of bilateral meetings to advance common goals around tourism resilience, diversity and rural development.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili joined Iran’s President, His Excellency Ebrahim Raisi, in opening the 17th edition of the Exhibition. At the leading event, UN Tourism reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Iran grow its tourism sector through promotion and investments, while also supporting the country in educating a new generation of tourism workers. Mr Pololikashvili also met with the Mayor of Tehran, Ali Reza Zakani, with bilateral talks focusing on working together to make the city a more attractive destination both for tourists and for investors.

Read this page (Click)to learn about Iran’s handicrafts, which are one of Iran’s tourist attractions.

The Secretary-General explored the Tehran International Tourism Exhibition alongside Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Ezzatollah Zarghami and Deputy Minister Dr. Ali Asghar Shalbafian. The UN Tourism leadership commended their hard work building the sector, with particular recognition of how tourism is celebrating Iran’s diverse ethnic groups and traditions while also providing a common vision for the future of the country. Representing UN Tourism’s growing Affiliate Members network, the CEO of Abbas Abad Cultural and Tourism Area, Seyed Hossein Hejazi, also met with Secretary-General Pololikashvili to make clear the role the private sector is playing in advancing shared goals.

In line with the Organization’s emphasis on rural development, Governor Malek Rahmati was presented with a plaque to commemorate Kandovan being included in the list of Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism. The significant potential for growing tourism as a pillar of rural development, benefitting communities across Iran, was also noted, with UN Tourism ready to work with destinations to help them join the Best Tourism Villages network.

Source:  UN Tourism

Textile artworks

Unraveling History: textiles and workshop nurses

An artist is using textiles to tell the story of workhouse nurses who served for 150 years before the NHS was set up.

What is NHS? (Click to read)

WHAT IS NHS?

The NHS, or National Health Service, is a publicly funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom. It was launched in 1948 with the aim of providing healthcare services to all residents of the UK, regardless of their ability to pay. The NHS was established to ensure that healthcare was accessible to everyone, free at the point of use, and based on need rather than the ability to pay. This marked a significant milestone in the history of healthcare in the UK, as it replaced a fragmented and often inequitable system with a comprehensive, universal healthcare service.

According to the BBC
Their contribution to local people’s welfare can be explored at an exhibition at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse in Dereham, Norfolk.
The project has been the work of local artist Connie Flynn and a team of volunteers.
Making the Rounds will feature original items loaned or donated.
Ms Flynn said the textile works on display were chosen to “interpret and represent stories of the workhouse, literally held within sheets, bandages and uniforms”.
“Cloth is a powerful material which can holds stories and memories,” she added.
According to Norfolk Museums, between 1777 and 1948, Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse – now Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse – was home to some of the most vulnerable people in rural Norfolk.
It provided accommodation, food and work for paupers who did not have enough money to provide for themselves, and many people turned to the workhouse because of illness, disability, mental illness or as a safe place to give birth.
It was run by just a handful of paid staff, and the day-to-day care of the sick and vulnerable patients fell to the nurses, often overworked, undertrained and isolated.
Mary Wallin, from Birmingham, is among the real people featured in the exhibition. She arrived at the workhouse in 1895 with glowing references and she became head nurse after two and half years at the site, aged 28.
Rachel Kidd, curator at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, said: “The topic is hugely important. It helps us understand the different ways that ordinary people were able to access medical care before the NHS.”
Volunteer researcher Dauna Coppin said: “I have researched more than 20 nurses for this project and found each and every one fascinating.
“It has been very satisfying, just starting with a name and a date or two and ending up with a comprehensive history of their life.”
The exhibition opens on 9 March.