Recognising the value of the artisan and encouraging others to follow in their traditions, the National Crafts Council and Bengal Foundation have jointly organised the Mastercraftsperson Award and Crafts Fair.

This year’s event is dedicated to Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin to commemorate the birth centenary of the master artist.

Widow of the Shilpacharya Begum Jahanara Abedin, and distinguished writer Selina Hossain jointly inaugurated the five-day crafts fair and handed over the awards at a ceremony held on 10 April at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts at Dhanmondi in the capital.

Nakshikantha artisan Rasheda Begum of Jamalpur, recipient of the 1999 Shilu Abed Mastercrafts Award, was present on the occasion as a special guest.

Bengal Foundation director general Luva Nahid Chowdhury, and National Crafts Council president Chandrashekhar Saha spoke on the occasion.

This year’s winners Mamtaj begum, Kadbanu, Khadija Begum, and Gulnahar expressed their struggle as an artisan and shared their success stories with the audience.

The awardees received a cash prize of Tk 50,000 each, along with a crest recognising their craftsmanship.

The Mastercraftspersons Award was introduced in 1989 by the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh with the objective of reviving traditional crafts, recognising the value of artisans and encouraging others to follow their traditions. Since 2010, the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh and Bengal Foundation have jointly organised the award and crafts fair.

The event is open to all and will run till 14 April 2015 from 11:00am to 8:00pm.