History of the Third International Festival of Creativity and Innovation in Tabriz on Islamic Arts and Crafts (IRCICA – 2017)
 
The third edition of the International Festival of Creativity and Innovation in Tabriz on Islamic Arts and Crafts (IRCICA) was held from May 4 to 12, 2017, in the city of Tabriz. This major international event, inspired by the name and objectives of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), was managed and executed under the leadership of the Scientific Secretary, Dr. Mehdi Mohammadzadeh, and the Executive Secretary, Mr. Karim Mirzaei.
 
Festival Structure and Sections
In its third edition, the festival was designed with a coherent structure comprising two main sections: International and National.
   International Section: This section included two main pillars: "Academic Paper Presentations" and an "International Exhibition."
   National Section: This section was divided into a "Competitive" segment and an "Exhibition" segment, with the primary goal of encouraging and promoting domestic artists.
 
Scientific Section and Paper Presentations
One of the richest sections of the festival was the scientific program, which was organized into seven specialized sessions with the participation of prominent researchers and professors from various Islamic countries. The sessions and their chairs were as follows:
1.  Miniature Painting Session (First): Chaired by Ahmad Hikmat Barutçu Gül from Turkey. Papers from Algeria and Iran were presented on topics such as "A Panoramic Approach to Algerian Islamic Miniature" and "Identifying the Hidden Geometric System in Iranian Painting."
2. Miniature Painting Session (Second): Chaired by Dr. Asmar Abdullayev from the Republic of Azerbaijan. Papers from Iran and Pakistan focused on "Recreating Traditional Miniature Painting in the Contemporary Era" and "The Art of Pakistani Miniature."
3.Ebru (Marbling) Session: Chaired by Dr. Kazım Hacızı Malik from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Papers from Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Malaysia were presented on "The Dynamics of Ebru" and even "Paper Making from Waste."
4.Bookbinding and Illumination (Tazhib) Session: Chaired by Dr. Nezihe Maruf. In this session, papers from Egypt on "Illumination in the Ottoman Period" and from Bosnia on "The Art of Islamic Bookbinding" were presented.
5.Handicrafts and Creativity Session: Chaired by Professor Dr. Fethiye Sadrin Barouni from Tunisia. Papers from Turkmenistan on "The Influence of Islamic Art on Turkmen Carpets" and from Turkey on "The Role of Creativity in IRCICA's Programs" were reviewed.
6.Historical Studies and Intangible Heritage Session: Chaired by Professor Dr. Abdo Osman Ata from Sudan. Papers from Iran on "The Raw Materials of Islamic Painting" and from Azerbaijan on "The Role of Intangible Heritage in Contemporary Art" were presented.
7.Country Experiences Session (Tunisia, Sudan, Ivory Coast): Chaired by Dr. Roshan bin Ibrahim. This session discussed the challenges and prospects for the development of handicrafts in these three African countries.
 
International and National Exhibitions
In the International Exhibition, approximately 58 artists from 33 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation displayed their works in diverse fields such as leatherwork, jewelry, traditional bookbinding, embroidery, woodwork, carpets, metalwork, clothing, patchwork, tilework, miniature painting, illumination (Tazhib), and basket weaving.
 
In the National Section, an exhibition of artistic achievements at the country level in fields such as metalwork, pottery and ceramics, glass, and wood was set up. The National Competitive segment was specifically dedicated to four disciplines: Miniature Painting, Illumination (Tazhib), Tash'ir (marginal decoration), and Gol-o-Morgh (Flower and Bird painting).
 
Final Statement and Festival Outcomes
During the closing ceremony, the "Tabriz Statement 3" was ratified by the participants. This statement, resulting from the synthesis of the attendees' ideas, emphasized several key requests and points:
   A request to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to establish a "University Center" for promoting higher education in arts in Islamic countries and a proposal for the permanent hosting of this center by the Tabriz Islamic Art University.
   A request for the regular, biennial hosting of this festival in Tabriz.
   A proposal to dedicate the fourth edition of the festival to women artists of the Islamic world.
   A serious request for the final approval of Tabriz as the "Capital of Miniature Painting in the Islamic World" and the establishment of a permanent IRCICA Miniature Painting office in this city.
   Emphasis on the role of media in introducing Islamic artistic heritage and the necessity of supporting cultural dialogue.
 
The third edition of the IRCICA festival, by bringing together artists, researchers, and intellectuals from across the Islamic world, was not merely a display event but a strategic "think tank" that took a significant step towards reviving authentic Islamic arts, promoting creativity, and strengthening cultural solidarity among Muslim nations.