Guanajuato City to host World Carpet Convention

From May 14 to 17, conferences and workshops will be held to address points such as “Cultural and Material Heritage as a creator of community, identity and social cohesion”

On May 18, spectators will be able to participate in the creation of a Monumental Carpet

Mexico City/Gto News

Countries and States of Mexico that share the love for ephemeral art will meet in Guanajuato City from May 14 to 18, in the first “World Carpet Convention”, an event that unites the hands, minds and hearts of more than 100 carpet makers.

Today, in Mexico City, Juan Jose Alvarez Brunel, Secretary of Tourism of the State of Guanajuato, with Martin Ulises Ramirez Martinez, President of the Organizing Committee La Octava Noche Uriangato, presented the details of this unique event in the country that awaits the influx of 12 thousand people, who will be able to participate in conferences, workshops and creation of a Monumental Carpet.

The carpet making will have the historical setting of the Alhondiga de Granaditas, in this space “carpet makers from four delegations from Spain, two delegations from Italy, two delegations from India, Belgium, Malta, Portugal, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Tibet and Brazil”, said the Secretary of Tourism.

Also there are participating Mexican delegations from:

• Huamantla and Terrenate, Tlaxcala; Oaxaca, Oaxaca; Patamban, Michoacan; Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo; Acatzingo, Puebla; and Xico, Veracruz

“This is all about alliances. We are a State that holds events of great magnitude and the evolution of the ephemeral art rug makers of Uriangato could not go unnoticed and what better than in this city that has a rich heritage that, with the State Institute of Culture, we value and manifest not only the joy of having their contribution, but we are continually busy ensuring that the value is to maintain and disseminate their art,” said Juan Jose Alvarez.

La Octava Noche, in collaboration with SECTUR and with the vision of Governor Diego Sinhue Rodriguez Vallejo, who is clear about the recognition of our heritage and culture, but above all the dissemination and enhancement of the actions, and seriousness and impulse to an art and tourism experience with destinations that share the same tradition of creating magnificent carpets of sawdust and flowers, mainly.

From May 14 to 17, there will be conferences and workshops that will address points such as “Cultural and Material Heritage as a creator of community, identity and social cohesion”; On the 17th, a carpet circuit will also be held at the San Diego Temple, Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato, Plaza San Roque and other.

And, on the 18th, at noon, the Collective Monumental Carpet will be made in the Alhondiga de Granaditas, spectators will be able to intervene in its creation.

The President of the Organizing Committee for La Octava Noche Uriangato recounted the tradition of carpets in Uriangato and its important participations inside and outside of Mexico.

“We have had eight international reunions in Uriangato, we have participated twice in the Monumental Carpets of the Great Plaza in Brussels, Belgium, in 2018 and 2022; and participations in countries such as Spain, Italy, Japan and Malta; in 2020 we managed to make the largest carpet in the world in the Zocalo of Mexico City, with the participation of more than 300 volunteers and 200 people with disabilities, fulfilling the goal of generating positive change through culture and art of the country and the entire world,” said Martin Ulises Ramirez Martinez.

This whole tradition began in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel. The people of Uriangato celebrate on October 6th -eight days after the festival- the Traditional Octave in which they line 6 kilometers of streets and main square with rugs and carpets of sawdust and flowers that represent beauty, love and fervor towards the Patron Saint of Uriangato.

“The group was created in 2009, a group of young people carrying the Uriangato tradition of sawdust carpets made in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel. Now, 15 years after the association has achieved different national and international stages, we are very proud to present this event of artistic expression: World Carpet Convention,” said Ramirez Martinez.