From September 19 to 21, Kokand and Rishtan hosted the Third International Festival of Folk and Applied Arts and the International Forum on Ceramics

From September 19 to 21, Kokand and Rishtan hosted the Third International Festival of Folk and Applied Arts and the International Forum on Ceramics.

For several days, these ancient cities became focal points for artisans and scholars: more than 300 participants from over 70 countries presented their craftsmanship, exchanged expertise, and shared perspectives on the preservation of traditions. The atmosphere of fairs, exhibitions, and scholarly discussions once again demonstrated that craftsmanship remains a living language of cultural dialogue.

A special emphasis in the program was placed on academic conferences. In Kokand, the meeting “Prospects for the Development of Crafts and Folk Applied Arts” was convened, while in Rishtan, the discussion “Preservation and Development of Traditional Ceramic Art: Challenges and Solutions” took place. These scholarly platforms brought together researchers and practitioners from diverse countries, uniting scientific knowledge with the vitality of artisanal traditions.

Professor Elmira Gyul, Senior Research Fellow at the International Research Institute “Silk Road”, delivered two academic papers devoted to the Tashkent ceramic school: “Tashkent Ceramics from the Collection of F. R. Martin: On the Study of a Local Center” and “The Creative Work of Turab Miraliev — From Traditions to Innovative Experiments.”

On behalf of the Institute’s administration, Deputy Director Ulugbek Takhirovich Abdullaev addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He emphasized the significance of joint research on Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage and presented commemorative gifts to Ms. Karolina Krzywiska, a staff member of the Museum of Asia and the Pacific (Warsaw), in recognition of her contribution to the study and promotion of Uzbek culture in Poland.

The festival once again affirmed that folk arts represent not only the heritage of the past. They continue to evolve, to open new horizons, and to unite people of different nations and cultures. Ancient traditions remain alive today, organically interwoven into the fabric of the modern world.