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| Saudi Crafts Authority | |
|---|---|
| Name | Saudi Crafts Authority |
| Native name | هيئة الحرف السعودية |
| Formation | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Region served | Saudi Arabia |
| Leader title | Governor |
| Leader name | Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud |
Saudi Crafts Authority
The Saudi Crafts Authority was established in 2020 as a national institution to support traditional crafts practitioners across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to integrate artisanal industries into national development programs such as Vision 2030. It coordinates with ministries including the Ministry of Culture (Saudi Arabia), the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and regional authorities in provinces like Makkah Province, Riyadh Province, and Asir Province. The Authority seeks to revive forms associated with historical centers such as Diriyah, Jeddah (historical district), and Al-Ula by linking makers to markets, training, and heritage frameworks like those established by UNESCO.
The Authority was announced amid reforms following policy initiatives driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and institutional plans reflected in Saudi Vision 2030. Its founding responded to earlier efforts by entities such as the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage and projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture (Saudi Arabia). Early milestones included national surveys of artisan communities inspired by comparative models from the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Pilot programs took place in historic craft hubs including Al-Ahsa, Najran, and Taif, building on cultural inventories maintained by the Saudi Heritage Commission and data frameworks comparable to those used by the World Intellectual Property Organization for traditional knowledge.
The Authority’s mandate intersects with cultural policy instruments like the National Strategy for Culture and economic diversification programs under Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia). Core functions include certification of artisanal products, accreditation of workshops, and registration of master artisans, aligned with standards from bodies such as the International Labour Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It operates craft museums and exhibition platforms akin to institutions such as the British Museum and Smithsonian Institution while administering incentive schemes that mirror grants from organizations like the European Union cultural funds. The Authority also issues technical guidelines in coordination with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).
The governance model comprises a board drawn from figures associated with institutions such as the Ministry of Culture (Saudi Arabia), the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, and academic partners including King Saud University and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Leadership pathways involve advisory panels with representatives from the Saudi Contractors Authority and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization. Regional departments operate in municipal centers including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, and specialized units coordinate research with universities like King Abdulaziz University, think tanks such as the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and international NGOs like ICOMOS.
Major programs include apprenticeship schemes modeled after systems in Japan and Italy, market access projects similar to initiatives by UNIDO, and digital platforms for e-commerce collaborating with private sector firms like STC and Saudi Telecom Company partners. Initiatives encompass annual national festivals inspired by events such as the Sharjah Heritage Days and craft fairs comparable to Handmade in Britain and Dubai Design Week. Training workshops leverage curricula developed with institutions such as the British Council and technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization when crafts intersect with heritage foodways. The Authority has launched cataloguing projects that mirror the approaches of the Library of Congress for intangible heritage documentation.
The Authority maintains partnerships with international organizations including UNESCO, UNDP, and UN Women as well as bilateral cultural institutes like the Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes, and the French Institute in the Middle East. It collaborates with museums and galleries such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and private sector partners including the Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia) portfolio companies and retailers like SACO and hospitality groups operating properties in Riyadh Season events. Academic collaborations extend to research centers such as MIT and Harvard University through exchange programs, and technical cooperation with standards bodies like the International Organization for Standardization.
The Authority contributes to job creation in artisanal value chains across regions including Al-Bahah and Hail and supports microenterprises in sectors linked to tourism in destinations such as AlUla (region) and Diriyah Restoration Project. Economic effects align with diversification aims pursued by the Ministry of Economy and Planning (Saudi Arabia) and investment strategies of the Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia), enhancing exports to markets in the European Union, United States, and Gulf Cooperation Council. Studies conducted with partners like the World Bank and IFC assess productivity gains, while pilot incubators follow models from the Small Business Administration (United States) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The Authority plays a central role in preserving craft traditions tied to heritage sites such as Al-Qatt Al-Asiri murals recognized by UNESCO and the oyster-women narratives of Jeddah (historical district). It curates exhibitions reflecting practices documented by the British Museum and supports transmission of skills through master-apprentice systems similar to those protected under the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Promotion efforts include publications in collaboration with presses like Dar al-Mareekh and multimedia projects produced with broadcasters such as the Saudi Broadcasting Authority.
Category:Organizations based in Saudi Arabia