Latest news with #handicrafts
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi handicrafts on show at London's Selfridges
RIYADH: The Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF) is showcasing traditional handicrafts from the Kingdom at luxury department store Selfridges in London from June 3-22. The initiative is taking place during Saudi Arabia's Year of Handicrafts and is in collaboration with British charity organization Turquoise Mountain, which works to support the production of traditional crafts around the world. The collection celebrates diverse Saudi artisans and features intricate palm crafts, delicate jewelry and accessories, and fine leatherwork, with an emphasis on showcasing the differences between various regional styles in Saudi Arabia. The showcase is being held alongside an exhibition of fashion designs, held by the Saudi 100 Brands initiative. A key milestone in the CDF's efforts to support the Kingdom's cultural sector is the recent launch of the Nama' Accelerators: Handicrafts Track — a dedicated solution that supports cultural businesses through specialized training, mentorship, and financial incentives.
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi artisanal boom marks ‘Year of Handicrafts'
Monsha'at, Saudi Arabia's Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, has released its latest quarterly SME Monitor, providing a detailed overview of the latest trends and developments shaping the Kingdom's dynamic SME ecosystem. This edition highlights a 48 percent y-o-y increase in new commercial registrations in Q1, key trends in the local and global handicrafts sector, and the many ways in which Saudi Arabia is empowering its next generation of artisanal SMEs. The report sheds light on the rich heritage of Saudi handicrafts, several of which have been listed in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition to well-known mainstays such as Al-Sadu weaving, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri wall decoration, Bisht tailoring, Jambiya daggers, and Madinah pottery, the report also features insights into the cultural and economic significance of Saudi handicrafts. For these reasons and others, 2025 has been designated the 'Year of Handicrafts.' Thanks to a steady increase in tourism, e-commerce, and consumer interest in authentic Saudi arts and crafts, the report shows, rural female entrepreneurs in particular also stand to gain from a sector expected to be worth $1.3 trillion by 2028. The recent launch of the Saudi Artisanal Company is an example of the sector's promise. In addition to aiming to create 9,000 new handicrafts jobs by 2030, SAC hopes to serve 15 percent of the domestic handicrafts market by then, the report shows. Thanks to a raft of recent government initiatives to empower handicrafts SMEs, from the Heritage Commission to the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, opportunities for artisanal entrepreneurs are rife. In addition to its coverage of handicrafts trends and developments in Saudi Arabia, the latest SME Monitor also has a special section on global developments in the sector. Chief among these are a greater emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness, e-commerce expansion, new technology, and a desire for cultural preservation. Artisans in Uganda, the report shows, have transformed banana waste into valuable handicrafts such as rugs and lampshades, while designers elsewhere have found ways to use 3D printing with biodegradable materials to create customized garments. In its survey of broader SME developments across Saudi Arabia, the report also reveals a remarkable increase in commercial registrations in Q1 2025, a key indicator of the country's booming entrepreneurial landscape. In addition to 154,638 new registrations, sectors like e-commerce reached 41,322 active registrations in that quarter, with an impressive six percent y-o-y increase. In a show of technological advancement, the number of active cloud-computing registrations shot up by 33 percent. Thanks to a wide variety of enablement, financing, and business development programs offered by Monsha'at, more than 22,000 SMEs benefited from Saudi Arabia's leading SME enabler in Q1 2025, the report shows.
Arab News
23-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi fund unveils handicraft investment accelerators
RIYADH: Nama' Accelerators, a pioneering initiative to foster the growth of cultural enterprises, has been launched by the Saudi Cultural Development Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program. The project, featuring a comprehensive training and development program, will include several sector-specific tracks. The first of these is the flagship handicrafts track, with the aim of amplifying the economic, social and creative impact of the 2025 — Year of Handicrafts initiative. It targets micro, small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand across 11 diverse fields within the sector, including pottery, textiles and woodworking. Benefits on offer include specialized training in modern craft techniques, intensive workshops on marketing and business management, and improved market access both locally and internationally. It also provides financial incentives to support sustainable growth and expansion. Through this inaugural track, Nama' Accelerators intends to transform the Kingdom's rich artisanal heritage into sustainable economic ventures that foster community development, encourage innovation within the handicraft industries and enrich the national identity. The Cultural Development Fund seeks to advance the handicrafts sector by maximizing its economic and social impact, fostering innovation across its diverse fields, and cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures creativity and growth. Nama' Accelerators represents a strategic milestone in the fund's ambition to position itself as the financial center of excellence for the cultural sector. As a key financial enabler for entrepreneurs and enterprises, it fuels the sustainable and profitable growth of their ventures. The initiative also strengthens the fund's collaboration with key players across the cultural ecosystem, supporting its continued progress toward fulfilling the objectives of the National Culture Strategy within Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 framework. Khalid Al-Baker, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, told Arab News: 'Promoting and sustaining national culture hinges on transforming the cultural sector into an economically productive industry. This transformation involves expanding cultural offerings — including cultural days, events, and activities — and streamlining the permit issuance process for cultural projects.' He added that, as part of the Quality of Life Program's efforts to fulfill Vision 2030's objectives: 'We have implemented programs targeting these key pathways, including the launch of Nama' Accelerators.' Nama' Accelerators will actively elevate the role of handicrafts in society, transforming them from museum artifacts into a vibrant, economically sustainable sector. The initiative promotes creativity and innovation while safeguarding a living cultural heritage for current and future generations, Al-Baker said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia: Wrth, Aseer Authority to Boost Traditional Arts in Handicrafts Year 2025
The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Aseer Region Development Authority in Riyadh. The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in traditional arts, empower the crafts sector, and enhance artisans' skills, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia's designation of 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts, the Saudi Press Agency reported Thursday. The MoU supports crafts and traditional industries through collaboration with specialized partners, chiefly with Wrth, SPA said. The partnership aims to build effective and sustainable cooperation that enables educational and training programs focused on preserving the authenticity of crafts and improving their quality, in line with the authority's development goals rooted in heritage and nature. Wrth is a leading entity in promoting national identity, enriching and showcasing Saudi traditional arts locally and globally, honoring distinguished practitioners, preserving craft heritage, supporting national talents, and encouraging wider learning and development of these crafts.
Asharq Al-Awsat
19-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Artisans House Boosts Jazan's Heritage Crafts
The Artisans House in Jazan Region has revitalized traditional handicrafts nearing obsolescence due to modern technological advancements, preserving the region's cultural wealth, SPA reported. This endeavor aligns with the Heritage Commission's goal of developing the Saudi artisans' skills and showcasing the aesthetic qualities and inherent authenticity of Saudi handicrafts through training. Thirty artisans are participating in a year-long program focusing on qa'aid making, taaqiyah weaving, and seashell crafts to reconnect with regional heritage. Under the guidance of specialized trainers, they learn traditional techniques and explore contemporary designs. The program aims to bring back qa'aid making, a craft once vital for creating beds or chairs in old Jazan homes. The Artisans House empowers local youth to learn traditional crafts, becoming a hub for education and training in the region's heritage crafts. The initiative supports passing down knowledge to future generations and is in line with The Year of Handicrafts 2025, aiming to preserve the craft's identity and strengthen handicrafts as a vital part of Saudi identity and cultural heritage.
