The Kholmogory bone-carving industry and Kargopol clay toys received the official status of objects of the non-material ethnic-cultural heritage of Russia’ nations, as per the press service of the Arkhangelsk Region Government.

“The inclusion of these handicrafts in the cultural assets list of our country will guarantee their legal protection and will open up new opportunities for preserving, studying and popularizing them. I hope that this acclaim will serve as additional inspiration for artisans and will raise public awareness of the Arkhangelsk Region’s cultural treasures. This becomes unprecedentedly significant and relevant during the Year of the Culture of the Russian North,” the region’s Governor Alexander Tsibulsky noted.

The decision was made after reviewing 89 applications from various Russian regions. Fifty-eight objects, including two from the Arkhangelsk Region, were added to the registry.