National Craft Day Festival To Showcase Economic Potential

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- In two days time the 2011 National Craft Day Festival will begin at the Handicraft Complex, in Jalan Conlay.

The tents are already up and final preparations are on high gear for the festival themed 'Craft Generates Economy'.

It is expected to showcase the new and the best products from the craft entrepreneurs in the country.

The event from 23 Feb to 7 March has been a staple since 2003, with the sales recorded during the event and the number of participants ever on the rise. This year about 500 entrepreneurs specialising in textile, jungle resources,  clay, metal and others are participating.

According to Kraftangan Malaysia's Director General Mohd Kamil Mohd Ali the theme chosen this time reflects the craft sector's contribution to the national economy.

"Commercialising the craft products helps to generate income and contribute to the nation's economic growth," he said.

 

NUMEROUS PROGRAMMES

To engage the visitors, numerous programmes have been lined up throughout the 12 day duration - craft sales, special promotion, household item exhibition, woodwork in building, the promotion and sales of new design craft products.

The event, much awaited by craft enthusiasts, also opens the door for entrepreneurs to establish links with international and domestic buyers.

And for those who come for the first time, they are bound to be mesmerised by the local craft products and the nation's arts heritage showcased at the venue.

 

SPECIAL PROMOTION

In enriching the variety, two special promotion has been planned - Household Item Exhibition and Woodwork in Building.

The first displays craft for contemporary internal decoration including living room sets, dining table, bedroom set and garden furniture made using medium like wood, bamboo and rotan. These contemporary designs are the brainchild of seven entrepreneurs who have come up with 22 creative furniture designs.

The second, provides opportunity for wood work enthusiasts to appreciate the intricate woodwork.

The same corner also exhibits and sells the latest woodwork, highly innovative and suitable to be used as decoration for the door, window, corridor, floor, the main pillar and staircase for living spaces like condominiums and hotels.

About 40 intricate functional woodwork like partitions, wall panels, grills, windows, openings and doors, the work of 16 creative entrepreneurs from Pahang will be on display.

 

CONTEMPORARY CRAFT

To satisfy the varied taste of the visitors, those who are keen on contemporary decorations can go to the New Design Craft and Product Exhibition and Sales corner.

The retro modern concept exhibition highlights contemporary craft that can be used as corporate gifts, household and office decorations, and fashion and accessory. With 301 new designs created by 101 craft entrepreneurs, it is among the main attraction to the festival.

The festival is not just an exhibition or sales event, but most importantly it is to educate the visitors on the nation's craft heritage. Through the Heritage Craft Exhibition and Craft Education, visitors can view the exhibition under the theme Traditional Technology in Textile Craft Making.

 

1MALAYSIA CRAFT UNDER ONE ROOF

You need not go to the real location to see how the textile craft is made. Under the textile category, visitors can see the batik making demonstration including the batik Pelangi, Blok, Lasem and Canting.

The same goes to the weave craft like the songket, Tenun Pahang, Pua and Dastar, Gerus (polish with 'gerus' shell), Telepok, Tekat Benang Emas and Sulaman Keringkam and Kerawang.

As for those involved in the songket making industry or keen on the art of weaving songket, maybe the exhibition on the study of songket weaving technique by the National Craft Institute (IKN) will catch their attention.

The study on songket carried out by the institute using the `tying technique' also includes natural dying and contemporary songket colours.

There are also craft making demonstrations - bamboo/rotan weaving, ceramic, wood work, and the Orang Asli origami conducted daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Through the Craft Appreciation programme, craft enthusiasts could share ideas with those involved in the craft industry. A weave craft demonstration will also be held by 10 experts representing various communities from Sarawak, Pahang, Sabah, Terengganu and IKN.

Visitors can also witness foreign weave craft demonstration by experts from  the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, China and Korea.

For craft lovers, this is the best venue not only to appreciate and buy craft but also to learn how they are made. As those who are just learning of the local craft industry, the venue is the best platform to learn of the beauty and intricacy of the local craft.

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