Cuenca receives international designation of World City of Crafts

Ten trades and crafts are part of the activities that allowed Cuenca to receive the designation of World City of Crafts, by the World Council of Crafts, a non-profit entity based in Belgium.

Cuenca receives international designation of World City of Crafts

The announcement was made by Mayor Pedro Palacios Ullauri, who on July 23, 2019 nominated the capital of Azuaya to the World Council.

The recognition of trades such as goldsmithing and jewelry, pottery and ceramics, toquilla straw and basketry, wrought iron, embroidery, saddlery, tinsmithing, wood, marble and stonemasonry and pyrotechnics, led to this designation, according to a letter received by the Mayor.

Palacios mentioned that this designation is of great relevance for Cuenca and the country, because the work of our artisans and their various trades is recognized worldwide.

In addition, he stressed that this recognition motivates and commits to continue with the strengthening of programs for the improvement of the social conditions of artisans and the generation of policies in favor of this sector.

With this achievement, the tourists who visit the city will be encouraged, he said, to visit the different workshops and neighborhoods where the different handicrafts are made.

In order to consolidate the work of artisans, preliminary meetings are held on what will be the artisan’s ordinance proposal, which will collect their needs and seek that their activities are sustained over time.

The president of the World Crafts Council, Bárbara Velasco, stressed that Cuenca is a city that has several recognitions, but that the work of each artisan was lacking.

He added that the appointment took a long time, since the recognition process was a whole process, for which different workshops of the artisans were visited. With the Cuenca designation, it must expand its international exchange, work and communication with other cities that make up the Artisan Cities network and cooperate on a common platform for artisans around the world.

With this award, he pointed out, Cuenca demonstrates all the potentiality and cultural heritage it has, through wood crafts, toquilla straw, ceramics, embroidery, toquilla straw and other trades, which manifest this diversity and complement for important activities such as tourism.

Charguarchimbana was the space chosen for the delivery of official recognition by Bárbara Velasco, president of the World Council of Crafts. (I)