Review of the General Assembly
of WCC International 2008
in China
updated: November 22, 2008

General Assembly of World Crafts Council (International)
in Hangzhou / China
November 04 until November 10, 2008

The annual General Assembly 2008 of WCC (International) was held in China,
in Hangzhou ( a city located south of Shanghai )
and was extremely generously hosted and perfectly organized by the Chinese
national entity C.A.C.A.


The dates:
November 04, 2008: International Executive Board Meeting WCC (International)
November 05, 2008: General Assembly of WCC-Asia
November 06, 2008: Opening Ceremony of General Assembly of WCC (International)
November 07, 2008: 16th General Assembly of WCC (International)
November 08, 2008: WCC (International) Forum on Crafts & Design
November 09, 2008: Int. Crafts Exhibition, Closing & Banquet

WCC (Int.) and the Chinese hosts were very glad to welcome a great number of
delegates and guests from all 5 regions of World Crafts Council - mainly from
the Asian Region.

The European Region was represented by:
Elena Averoff (Delegate Greece)
Martina Dempf (Individual Member WCC-Europe & European Lecturer at Forum)
Anne Leclercq (WCC-E Vice-President & Delegate Belgium-French Community)
Bernd Roeter (WCC-E President & Delegate Germany)
Mio Schlegel (Delegate Sweden)

A preview of the (tentative) program can be downloaded
from here: WCC-International GA 2008 Program

The official opening:
Welcome addresses by Zhejiang Province People's Government, the leaving
President WCC (International), UNESCO and China Arts & Crafts Association
(will be updated)


The General Assembly:
It was an uncomplicated and mainly friendly meeting.....
Activity reports from the Regional Presidents and from the leaving WCC
(International) President, Maria Celina Olea Rodriguez (Chile), were given....

Elena Averoff and Bernd Roeter had the opportunity to present the
so-called "European Proposal" for a new structure of WCC (Int.).
Discussion between the delegates was short and not very promising.
(will be updated)

A new President of World Crafts Council International
was elected: Mrs. Usha Krishna, India



Usha Krishna presented an impressive preview her ideas for the future
work of WCC (International) and asked for the help an co-operation of
all regions.

WCC (International) Forum on Crafts & Design
on November 08, 3008:
Three different lectures were presented to the highly interested
delegates and guests in Hangzhou / China.
- Lecture from Australia:
(will be updated)
- Lecture from Europe:
Martina Dempf, jewellery designer, Berlin / Germany, Individual Member
of WCC-Europe presented a most interesting presentation entitled
"Experimental Jewellery– The Development of a Crafts Tradition into
Art in Europe" - More information: Abstract of the presentation
- Lecture from India
(will be updated)

The International Crafts Exhibition Hangzhou:


The entrance...

World Crafts Council presented in co-operation with China Arts & Crafts Association
a special show with exhibits of a great number of the countries participating at
the 16th General Assembly.
In this special area WCC-Europe presented some few works of following
craftspeople:
Jeannine Coppens, Jewellery (copper) / Belgium
Monika Fitzner, Bookbinding / Germany
Christine Keyeux, Jewellery (paper) / Belgium
Julia Kunuvska, Jewellery / Slovakia
Dominique Lietaert, Jewellery / Belgium

The small show of real objects (small due to transport difficulties) was
supported by a PPT-slide show on flat-screen monitor.

(will be updated)

The Closing Ceremony and Banquet:



On the right: Usha Krishna, new elected President of World Crafts Council,
dancing at the closing ceremony of the meeting in China



Surapee Rojanavongse, new elected President of WCC-Asia, and
Bernd Roeter, President of WCC-Europe, at the Banquet

( - will be updated with more details soon - )

The participants and guests of the 16th General Assembly:
(will be updated)

.....
.......................................................................................................................

European discussion about the future of WCC – International:  
In preparation for the General Assembly of WCC–International in China
between November 6 and 10, 2008 currently a discussion about the future of
WCC-International took place in the Executive Board of WCC-International
and - especially - between the members of WCC-Europe.  
The Member Entities of WCC-Europe have received a detailed statement of
the European Board regarding this topic. First replies to this statement have
reached the European Board and are visible for members of WCC-Europe on
this web site.
If you wish to read this discussion please contact the WCC-Europe
Secretariat to receive the appropriate link: contact@wcc-europe.org



.....