Central Asian Crafts Support Association’s Resource Center in Kyrgyzstan
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Program CS
Creative Spark: Higher Education Enterprise Programme
is a five-year initiative (2018 - 2023) to support university and institutional partnerships with the UK to develop entrepreneurship and enterprise skills for students and young entrepreneurs across seven countries: Ukraine, Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) and South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia).
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Program CF
Crafting Futures is a British Council’s global programme supporting the future of craft, its practices and people.
It will do this through creating economic, social and cultural impact by:
- Economic: improved skills and innovation, alongside the economic growth of the sector.
- Social: improving the perceived value of craft and its practice.
- Cultural: preserving and developing craft practices and traditions which are under threat and ensuring younger generations can continue their use, development and innovation.
The Crafting Futures programme aims to strengthen cultural identity by creating a greater understanding of craft within the sector, alongside new audiences and markets and improving the quality of creative practice. The programme will strengthen the work produced and increase opportunities for people to learn, train and grow the craft practice. Through the Crafting Futures programme we seek to address these aims by generating opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and shared learning between UK and local organisations and partners. The projects supported through this programme will demonstrate how the future of craft is a responsibility shared by a global community.
The programme is currently active in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.
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About us
At its creation, Central Asian Crafts Support Association (CACSA) consisted of several enthusiasts of the region's craft movement, and by 2009, over eight years, CACSA had created a regional network unifying 76 organizations (from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia) and implemented more than 50 projects in the field of development and support of crafts, where more than 5,000 artisans across the region were direct and indirect beneficiaries. During these eight years, CACSA has gained significant experience in the development of the crafts sector in the region, providing artisans with trainings, marketing support and promotion of crafts on to global markets.
At the end of 2008, the head office of CACSA, according to its Charter, moved to Almaty (Kazakhstan), and in March 2009 “CACSARC-kg” was registered as an independent public fund to continue activities in Kyrgyzstan for the development of crafts and traditional culture.
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Our missionPreservation of traditional culture, identity and uniqueness in the context of globalization. Revival and development of crafts in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia by consolidating the efforts of key players. Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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Our activityImplementation of socio-economic, cultural and educational programs and projects supporting craftspeople and the development of traditional crafts; Creation of an information network and database in the field of craft development; Organization of craft exhibitions, festivals, fairs, auctions and other public events; Research in the field of culture, history and ethnography of the peoples of Central Asia; Development of educational programs and guidelines; Organization of seminars, trainings, symposiums, conferences, lectures and courses; Provision of consulting, expertise, informational and other services; Publication of printed and audio-video products, distribution of information on other media; Other activities to achieve the goals and objectives of the Foundation in accordance with the law.