Festival to celebrate carpet art at medieval Rabati castle

Enthusiasts of the art of carpet design and production will be invited to spend five days at the Rabati medieval castle in Georgia's south during the International Festival of Carpets starting next week.

Exhibitors, designers and educators from Georgia and abroad will be present at the event to host visitors for demonstrations of carpet production, displays of traditional clothing designs and classes on artistic facets of carpet art.

Marking the second edition of the festival, hosts again selected the Rabati castle as the venue, reflecting the historical heritage of applied arts and household production in the Akhaltsikhe municipality where the 9th century fortification stands.

The festival will host displays of carpet works and the process of their creation. Photo: Georgian State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts.

Displays will come courtesy of exhibitors from 10 countries including Iran, India, Turkey and Georgia. Designer collections of traditional costumes featuring carpet patterns from Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan will also be part of the exhibition.

Shows will include various stages and techniques of carpet production by local and invited masters. In addition, educational activities will teach interested visitors about subjects including pattern, colour and design of carpets.

The educational part of the festival will be hosted by the Free University of Tbilisi School of Visual Art and Design and festival organisers the Georgian State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts.

A display from last year's festival. Photo: Georgian State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts.

The home venue for the event, the Rabati castle is located in southern Georgia's Akhaltsikhe municipality, about three hours drive west of capital Tbilisi.

The fortification was first first built in 9th century and expanded four centuries later. It served as the capital of the medieval Samtskhe principality and was residence for generations of local rulers, while the fortress has been recently renovated to host various cultural events and festivals.

Organisers will provide free transport for festival visitors from Tbilisi to Akhalstikhe for the duration of the event, which is scheduled to run from June 28-July 2.

The second edition of the annual event will be held at Rabati castle. Photo: Georgian State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts.

The festival is held in frame of Check in Georgia, a governmental project of festivals, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. 

It is organised by the Georgian State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts, a Tbilisi venue housing collections of Georgian and Caucasian craft work items including carpets, silk, leather, heavy cloth and felt.