My Letter
To,
WCC-APR Executive Board Members & WCC-APR National Entity Members
Dear Members,
First of all, I would like to express my sincere condolences for the demise of Dr. Ghada Hijjawi-Qaddumi, the late president of WCC (International). As we, Muslims, believe, we pray God to place her in the Heavens.
I am in concert with other distinguished members and candidates that WCC (International) needs a series of administrative, financial, technical and managerial changes.
I, here below, briefly provide you with my reasons for running for WCC (International) presidency:
1- Digital Age and Handicrafts
In my opinion, the first issue that WCC (International) should focus on, is the rapid changes in the future of jobs and professions in the Digital Age. I am sure that Digital Age is one of the priorities in all of our countries. The growing impacts of new technologies such as Block chain and crypto economy, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and big picture are crucially important. To have a sustainable handicrafts industry on a world scale, we need an agile and smart organization that should be ready for coming drastic changes to support its members.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a dual effect on this industry like many other industries:
(1) It, unfortunately, caused the death of thousands of artisans all around the world. In some cases, this pandemic endangered some specific fields of handicrafts. In a few cases, it made a specific field of handicrafts cease to exist.
(2) As a result of this pandemic, new technologies and innovations had the opportunity to show their capabilities; therefore, the post-COVID-19 period will not be the same as before. Accordingly, the entire stakeholders in the industry of handicrafts should be prepared for the new world.
2- Climate Change and Sustainable Handicrafts
The second point of focus should be “climate change”, which very directly imposes impacts that may endanger the livelihood of stakeholders. Excessive global exploitation of raw materials has already led to irreversible changes that can gradually annihilate handicrafts. To avoid this, “Circular Economy” seems to be a must to reach a sustainable and resilient system of handicrafts. One of my priorities, as the president of WCC (International), if elected, is to establish an advisory committee comprising of experienced experts of the circular economy who can devise guidelines in this respect.
3- Cultural Diversity and Handicrafts
Handicrafts are crystal clear examples of cultural diversity in which there are hidden potentials to strengthen the relations between our member states. I am sure that we do agree that handicrafts carry intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of our nations, communities and groups and individuals. WCC (International) should take the opportunity to benefit from the shared elements of ICH of the member states as their joining points where crises (wars, migrations, natural disasters, etc.) impose negative impacts on handicrafts e.g. in Africa, Latin America and some parts of Asia. Handicrafts should be a part of the “Resilient Art Movement”.
4- Iran, A Micro Synergistic World
We live in the so-call “Global Village” where interconnection and multidisciplinary grow rapidly. At the same time, this Global Village has faced mega problems like climate change, overpopulation, and excessive use of raw materials that need immediate attention. Almost all of the global mega problems are directly or indirectly related to handicrafts. Consequently, the next president of the WCC should be a leader who is capable of managing such complex problems.
I come from a country that has been one of the oldest cradles of civilization. Iran has always been the hub for trade between East and West for 2000 years in the Silk Roads. At the moment, Iran functions as a hub that connects the Persian Gulf to the Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation through South-North Corridor while simultaneously is an important hub in the modern Silk Roads.
Iran hosts one of the active category-2 centers of UNESCO in the field of ICH. Many global and UN organizations have an office in Iran. In addition, through an agreement between the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the UNWTO Secretariat of Handicrafts will be soon established in Iran.
All these potentials make Iran a micro synergetic world that can further the goals and objectives of the WCC (International). If elected as president, I will use my best efforts in utilizing all existing potentials in Iran in favor of the WCC (International).
In the end, I would like to briefly add that I started my job as a junior expert in the Iranian National Handicrafts Organization in 2002 and was gradually promoted to my current position as the Deputy Minister of Handicrafts in the Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism & Handicrafts. My experiences in a multifaceted ministry provided me with the capacity to, firstly, have a big picture of this industry and its problems, and secondly, to have the courage and experience enough to face those problems.
Finally, I avail myself of the opportunity to express my gratitude for your attention and supports.
Sincerely yours,
Pooya Mahmoudian
Traditional Arts and Handicrafts Deputy
Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts
Vice President of WCC Asia Pacific Region-West Asia Sub-Region