Presentation on the occasion of including "Art of the traditional carpet weaving in Azerbaijan" in a representative list of immaterial cultural heritage of humanity of UNESCO

Assembly hall
Time: 12:00
Organizer: Department of International relations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

The public is already well aware that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has undertaken work to protect and promote internationally examples of Azerbaijan’s Non-material cultural heritage, in addition to the Azerbaijani carpet, which represents the material and cultural wealth of the people of Azerbaijan and reflects the aesthetic outlook, artistic talent, uniqueness and cultural identity of the people. The Azerbaijani art of carpet-making was presented to UNESCO. On 16 November, at the 5th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee on Non-material cultural heritage, held in the Kenyan city of Nairobi between 15 and18 November 2010, the question of adding the Azerbaijani carpet to the Representative list of the Non-material cultural heritage of Humanity was discussed. As a result of the care and international promotion of his people’s culture by Ilham Aliyev, President of the Azerbaijan Republic, and the range of events held with the initiative and support of the president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO goodwill ambassador, and deputy Mehriban Aliyeva, it was decided to add the “Traditional carpet art of Azerbaijan” to the Representative list of the Non-material cultural heritage of humanity of UNESCO at the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Non-material cultural heritage. To mark this event, a presentation ceremony was held in the Museum Centre on 7 February to present the candidate file, film and a website (www.carpet.intangible.az – in five languages) about the Azerbaijani carpet, prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to reach a wider audience. After the event was organized excursion to Azerbaijan State Museum of Carpets and Folk-applied Arts.