A joint Azerbaijani-Turkish project for individuals with visual disabilities has launched at the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum. The individuals with visual disabilities have an opportunity to vividly assess with the tactile method the difference in the interweaving typical to each carpet type. In addition, all exhibits are accompanied by special audio recordings and written materials in Azerbaijani and English Braille.

The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, and Azersun Holding group of companies within the support of ASAN Radio, ASAN School, and the British Council. Its concept based on a traveling exhibition of the Turkish public organization GEA Arama Kurtarma Ekoloji ve İnsani Yardim.

The Turkish side of the exhibition consists of replicas of the world museum exhibits (sculptures, small busts of ancient Greek philosophers and legendary heroes); the Azerbaijani side displays miniature samples of the pile and flat-woven carpets.

Masterclasses on weaving flat-woven and pile carpets, as well as macramé for individuals with visual disabilities, are organized within this exhibition.

The opening ceremony was attended by cultural figures, deputies, representatives of the diplomatic corps and various state organizations, including the Azerbaijan Society for Disablement of Eyesight. Sevda Mammadaliyeva, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Shirin Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Tahir Gozel, Board Member of the Azersun Holding, Samr Shah, Director of the British Council in Azerbaijan, poetess Nigar Hasanzade, Head of the Literary Project Söz of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Reihan Jafarova, Vice-Chairman of the Azerbaijan Society for Disablement of Eyesight, as well as poetess Saida Subhi, participant of the Söz project, who is visually impaired and one of the first visitors of the exhibition.

This project is designed not only for people with visual disabilities. All-comers, especially children and those adults who are deeply interested in the carpet weaving art, can enjoy the exhibition. A similar method for displaying exhibits will be widely implemented in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum’s exhibition activities over the next few months.

The exhibition will run until the end of February.