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 Mastercraftspersons Award and Crafts Fair.
The 2014 Awards cycle and Crafts fair was held to commemorate the birth centenary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin. Begum Jahanara Abedin, wife of the Shilpacharya, and distinguished writer Selina Hossain, jointly inaugurated the fair and presented the awards at the ceremony, on Friday 10 April 2015, at 4 PM, at Bengal Shilpalaya, Dhanmondi. Nakshikantha artisan Rasheda Begum of Jamalpur, recipient of the 1999 Shilu Abed Mastercrafts Award, was present at the occasion as a special guest.

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National Crafts Council of Bangladesh
Bengal Foundation

Programme
Mastercraftsperson Award ceremony and inauguration of the 5-day Crafts Fair
4 PM, Friday 10 April 2015
Bengal Shilpalaya, House 42, Road 27
Sheikh Kamal Sarani, Dhanmondi
Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
Phone : 01711817749, 8123115

The Crafts Fair was open from 10 to 14 April 2015, from 11 AM to 8 PM.