Iran’s national program for the preservation of the traditional art of calligraphy has recently been globally registered in UNESCO. According to reports from the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, the case for “The National Program for the Preservation of Traditional Art of Calligraphy in Iran” was under review from December 13th to December 18th, 2021, in the 16th international convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held within the Paris UNESCO headquarters. Eventually, it was approved under UNESCO’s Good Protection plan.
Notably, this is the first time Iran has gotten the approval for the cases it presents to the Good Protection plan for the protection of the custom’s spiritual heritage. Previous to this, 16 other Iranian customs ranging from performing arts to preserved rituals have been registered to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage protection program.
“We are pleased to announce that the case for the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was raised to preserve the art of calligraphy in UNESCO, was approved of today,” says Hojjatullah Ayoubi, the Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO. “I would also like to thank our brilliant experts within the Ministry of Cultural Heritage who played a key role in compiling this case.”
In response to the approval of Iran’s calligraphy case, Ayoubi expresses that it is “gratifying, having our people be notable contributors to and valiant preservers of the art of calligraphy, and for all of that effort to now be recognized on a global scale.”
Ayoubi continues, explaining that in the past two years, the Dance of the Pen (Raqs-e Qalam) along the Silk Roads virtual festival was an incredibly valuable event for the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO to hold, despite the political challenges it initially faced. The event displayed many wonderful artworks from calligraphers around the world in the city of Mashhad, Iran, and the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for the cooperation Mashhad’s city council provided. The exhibition eventually had its closing ceremony take place in Tehran, Iran’s capital.
And to conclude, Hojjatullah Ayoubi says, “The outstanding works of both Iranian and foreign calligraphers were video-mapped over Azadi Tower, and this celebration was very well received. Scientific lectures and the great outputs of this cultural event were sent to UNESCO, and helped they helped significantly in the registration of this case.”
