Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination (Topic: Srinagar joins UCCN)

Why in news?

On 8th October 2021, Srinagar was one of the 49 cities worldwide to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCOhad recommended
Srinagar and Gwalior for inclusion in the list, but only Srinagarcould make it under the Crafts and FolkArts category.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network UCCN was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. There are 295 cities across 90 countries which currently make up this network.

Strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services.
Develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities or creators and professionals in the cultural sector.
Improve access to and participation in cultural life, in particular for marginalized or vulnerable groups and individuals.
Fully integrate culture and creativity into sustainable development plans.

Categories:- Network is covered under 7 categories

The dossier forUCCN was made by a team from Srinagar Municipal Cooperation, in coordination with INTACH Kashmir.
Dosier mentioned that the UCCN tag would not only give global recognition to Srinagar but also help it in getting international funding, making tie-ups with craft universities and pitching crafts as products.

Varanasi:- Varanasi is in the list sense 2015,under theMusic category.
Jaipur:- Jaipur is in this list since 2015, under the Crafts and Folk Arts category.
Chennai:- Chennai is in this list since 2017, under the Music category.
Mumbai:- Mumbai is in this list since 2019 under the Film category.

Central Kashmir’s Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts are main districts, involved in handicraft making since ages. Textile, carpet and rugs, crewel embroidery, silverware, woodwork and papier-mâché are some examples.
Handicraft is only second to tourism as a major source of livelihood for many artisans in Kashmir.
Papier-mâché is based on creating colourful utility and decorative objects using paper pulp – vases, bowls, cups, boxes, trays and lamp bases.
Tables, jewellery boxes and trays are made from wood of walnut trees which grows at 7,000 feet above sea level.
Women artisans extensively participatein the making of Pashmina Shawls.The region is epicentre of high-quality, intricately woven woollen materials like shawls, carpets and rugs.

Lockdowndue to abolition of Article 370 and COVID-19 havehit the artisans hard.
Taking cognisance of the issues, Union Territory Administration will, for the first time, create a database of their expertise and help them showcase products to a global audience.