Background of the program:

Traditional arts and crafts have a viable role to play in the economic and cultural development of Central Asia. Indeed, craft fairs are regularly organized throughout Central Asia, including a semi-annual craft fair in Almaty, Kazakhstan and an annual Silk & Spices Festival in Bukhara, Uzbekistan to boost the regional market as well as to attract foreign buyers. Nevertheless, large initiatives should be further developed in Tajikistan to involve more Tajik handcrafters in this regional network. Bactria Cultural Centre has been organizing Handicraft Fairs twice a year since 2003. As such, Handicraft Fairs have become a strong tradition of the Centre. Bactria has organized a total of 10 Handicraft Fairs to date with increasing experience and expertise.

In 2008, BCC has gone beyond the strict scope of a handicraft products exhibition by organizing a regional Handicraft Fair focused on the development of a regional handcrafters’ network and on building the marketing capacity of Tajik handcrafters.

In order to give Tajik craftsmen better publicity and to develop regional linkages, the Bactria Cultural Centre, the Central Asian Crafts Support Association (CACSA), a Kyrgyz NGO, the International Fund of Tajik Handicraft Producers, "Haft Paikar", and Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia, organized a regional Handicraft Fair involving more than 50 handcrafters from different countries of the Central Asia region, including Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

The Handicrafts Fair event in Bactria Cultural Center is not only an exhibition-sale event, creating a shopping place, but it gives a chance to the most vulnerable people in Tajikistan to preserve their cultural heritage and to promote it to other people.

The great collaboration between Bactria Cultural Center led to the organization of a more and more professional event, broadening the scope of the Fair to a regional level and promising more benefits for craftsmen, for cultural heritage promotion, for Bactria Cultural Center and finally for our partners and their involvement in such projects.

At the moment there are 30 active craftsmen. All of them get ready for this event beforehand; they create special designs and products. They always want to be involved in these Fairs and proactively respond to initiatives of organizing such events. The impact of the project on the participating artists and craftsmen is very positive; they learn, have an opportunity to exhibit their handicraft products, enjoy recognition among locals and expatriates, meet with other craftsmen and improve and exchange their experiences.

The "Tillo Teppe" project was realized in the framework of this program in order to support and make contributions to artisans. During the August survey in Murghab Bactria Cultural Center and CACSA constantly exchanged views and ideas on further cooperation with the NGO YAK HOUSE in order to enhance the Murghab craftswomen association. The decision was taken to reopen the shop that will help to sell Yak House products, thus making a contribution to the local craftswomen of Murghab. YAK HOUSE as the association of women in the Murghab district was established upon the initiative and with the direct participation of ACTED, as one of its projects. The purpose of its establishment was to support women in the region through handicraft production and the promotion of handicrafts produced in markets.

Bactria Cultural Center regularly works with YAK HOUSE, involving members of the Association to participate in training and craft fairs. On December 6, 2008, Bactria Cultural Center opened the art salon "Tillo Teppe" of handicrafts in order to enable YAK HOUSE members to supply it with their products.

The main objectives:

- To contribute to the development of a national identity;
- To sustain and promote local talents by presenting the work of local artisans;
- To contribute to the propagation and promotion of Tajikistan’s heritage;
- To establish and maintain communication networks in order to facilitate correspondence with and amongst handicraft organizations in Tajikistan and in Central Asia

Main project activities

- Master Classes
- Handicrafts training
- Distribution of material about handicraft fairs, training, workshops and other events in and out of the region
- Evaluation of handicraft activities
- Publication of material about handicraft activities in Tajikistan