An online conference on the topic «Development of national crafts in the years of independence and the study of the most important areas of world practice» was held in the conference hall of the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan together with the Secretariat of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, as well as representatives of the Resource Centre for the Implementation of Innovations and Preservation of Traditions in the Sphere of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The conference was also attended by teachers of the Faculty of «Applied Arts» and the Department of «Art History» of the Academy of Arts, representatives of the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, as well as artisans engaged in folk applied arts.

The head of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Jamilya Kurbanova, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. The conference began with a speech by the executive secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, Chynar Rustemova, who emphasised that the development of national crafts is of great importance in the global context. From the monitor screen in online mode, the deputy director for scientific and publishing activities of the SBI (State Budgetary Institution) Gulnaz Latypova addressed the audience with the experience of the Resource Centre for the implementation of innovations and the preservation of traditions in the field of culture of the Republic of Tatarstan. Turkmen specialists introduced their Tatar colleagues to the decorative and applied arts of the Turkmen people, with the traditions of Turkmen crafts. And Turkmen artisans talked about their creative path.

The conference included master classes by teachers of the Academy of Arts in three areas - carpet weaving, ceramics, jewellery. Vice-Rector for Research of the Academy of Arts Nuryagdy Yagshymyradov, summing up the conference, expressed confidence in continuing the dialogue with colleagues from Tatarstan and opening up new innovative prospects in folk applied arts.

An exhibition of decorative and applied arts was timed to coincide with the conference, which was held in the gallery of the Academy. Participants got acquainted with creative products and the work of masters.