On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the 'Irthi' Contemporary Crafts Council continues to solidify Sharjah's status as a 'City of Crafts and Folk Arts' within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, based on a remarkable track record of achievements in preserving Emirati handicraft heritage, empowering craftswomen, and promoting international cooperation in design and creativity through quality programs, studies, and global partnerships. Over the past ten years, under the patronage of the wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, President of the 'Irthi' Contemporary Crafts Council, the Council has undergone a radical transformation from a local initiative aimed at reviving traditional crafts into a global platform that redefines crafts as tools for economic, cultural, and social development, contributing to the empowerment of craftswomen and enhancing the presence of Emirati traditional crafts on the world stage. The 10th anniversary of the founding of 'Irthi' coincides with UNESCO's inclusion of Sharjah in the 'City of Crafts and Folk Arts' network, in recognition of the role of the Emirati 'Talli' craft in preserving and sustaining intangible cultural heritage. Over the past decade, the 'Irthi' Contemporary Crafts Council has directly contributed to achieving this achievement by preserving and promoting Emirati crafts on major global platforms, festivals, and exhibitions, as well as documenting them through the implementation of programs and the publication of studies and publications that tell their story and preserve them for future generations. 'Irthi' will continue its mission of preserving and developing craft heritage, telling its story in the language of the present with a creative touch.
