The World Crafts Council AISBL was founded by Ms. Aileen Osborn Vanderbilt Webb, Ms. Margaret M. Patch, and Smt Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay at the 1st World Crafts Council General Assembly in New York on June 12, 1964. In November 2012, the organization World Crafts Council AISBL was formally constituted as an International Association without lucrative purpose, at 17/02, rue de la Trouille, 7000 Mons, Belgium. According to its Bylaws, every 4 years of the term, the Presidency of the organization changes. The current headquarters for the term (2021-2024) is located in the State of Kuwait.
In this year 2024, the World Crafts Council AISBL organization marks its 60th Anniversary and is proud to have successfully reached through its national entity members millions of craftsmen, artisans, and craft communities across the five (5) Geographical regions it represents: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America.
Since its inception, the World Crafts Council AISBL has been affiliated with UNESCO under Consultative Status for many years.
The World Crafts Council AISBL (WCC-International), an international non-profit organization, is dedicated to fostering the preservation, promotion, and advancement of global craftsmanship and traditional crafts. Our mission is to empower artisans, celebrate cultural diversity, contribute to sustainable development by supporting the rich tapestry of global craftsmanship, and preserving languishing crafts from extinction.
The main objective of the World Crafts Council AISBL is to strengthen the status of crafts in cultural and economic life. The Council aims to promote fellowship among craftspersons by offering them encouragement, help, and advice. It fosters and assists cultural exchange through conferences, international visits, research study, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and other activities. The WCC also seeks to foster wider knowledge and recognition of the craftspeople’s work with due regard to the diversified cultural and national backgrounds and tradition of its members. In carrying out these principles, the Council shall consult with governments, national and international institutions, societies, and individuals.