Construction of pitcher school –workshop “Kvevri Sakhli in village Ikalto commenced
Municipal Development Fund of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure has launched construction of Kvevri School -workshop in village Ikalto. Cost of the project is GEL 2 290366, 37 and is implemented by World Bank financial support. MDF executive director Ilia Darchiashvili along with Alaverdy monastery metropolitan bishop Davit Makharadze attended commencement of the works. Aim of the project is to recover pitcher manufacturing traditional methods and to develop historical cultural touring recreational education functions. Besides this young generation will have opportunity to study pitcher manufacturing method and thus to maintain ancient tradition. It will increase tourists flow and will improve social economic conditions of local population.
Making contribution in maintaining tangible and intangible cultural heritage monuments is another main task of the project. Population of Kakheti region and visitors will be main beneficiaries, within improved environment they will have opportunity to get familiarized with Georgian ancient traditions and benefit from improved environment.
By UNESCO ancient method of wine preparation using pitcher is already awarded with status of tangible and intangible cultural heritage monument, which makes project implementation even more significant. Unemployment problem will be partially solved in the region as local population will be hired in “ Kvevri Sakhli” since project finalization. Besides this about 70 workmen will be hired during construction till September 2016.
Within the project framework three storey administrative building and one storey building -enterprise producing pitcher were constructed. Ikalto school workshop gives opportunity to every interested person to watch pitcher ancient technology composition process, also there will be museum where ancient clay vessel will be exhibited. Besides museum and workshop construction of library and internet cafe is foreseen, clay vessel modeling will be available for all interested visitors.
Arrangement of all utilities: water supply system, drainage, sewerage system, power supply, air conditioning and heating, ventilation, gas supply is envisaged by the project. Public services and amenities will be organized. School workshop “ Kvevris sakhli” is of complex structure type. After construction finalization new generation will have opportunity to study not only pitcher manufacturing methods but also methods of making ancient Georgian wine vessels. Also courses of practical and theoretical study of traditional methods will be carried out for all interested persons. Georgian ceramic production will be popularized as well.
