Sharjah 24: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued Emiri Decree No. (1) of 2022 regarding the establishment and organistion of Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council (ICCC).
The decree stipulated that Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council would be established in the emirate, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council. The Council shall have legal personality and full capacity to carry out the legal actions necessary to achieve its goals and exercise its competencies, with its financial, administrative and technical independence.
According to the decree, the Council's headquarters will be in the city of Sharjah, and it is permissible by a decision of the Council, at the request of the chairman, to establish branches for it in the rest of the cities and regions of the emirate.
In accordance with the decree, the council aims to achieve a number of its tasks and objectives, including supporting, encouraging and empowering professional women economically and socially; creating sustainable initiatives to preserve traditional crafts and enhance its position locally and globally; enhancing the Council’s position as a leading international brand in designing contemporary products using traditional crafts; applying the comprehensive quality specifications and standards approved in the craft sector; documenting contemporary crafts and continuing their modernisation to support, improve, develop and preserve the craft heritage; and preserve the region's cultural heritage and traditional handicraft skills for the coming generations.
In order to ensure the Council achieving its objectives, the decree stated that the Council should have the right to exercise a number of different specialisations.
According to the decree, the council shall be chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. The board shall be managed by a director appointed by a decision of the Chairperson, assisted by a sufficient number of employees, and shall exercise a number of competences.
The decree also included many legal articles that regulate the Council's work in terms of administrative and financial procedures.