26 July 2021
Bahrain Culture Authority Launches the “National Register of Craftsmen”
As part of its 2021 projects to develop traditional crafts’ heritage in Bahrain
the bahrain authority for culture and antiquities (baca) has launched the “national register of craftsmen”, a qualitative initiative that aims to gather detailed data on crafts and craftsmen, and will constitute a reference for development programs and future strategies aimed at empowering craftsmen, developing their businesses and skills, and ensuring their sustainability. the national register of craftsmen is managed and supervised by baca’s crafts directorate.
the national register of craftsmen will encompass a comprehensive database on the practitioners of traditional crafts and handicrafts, through which baca seeks to direct its policies in a manner that suits the needs of the sector and its affiliates, as part of its strategic plan aimed at achieving sustainable development of handicrafts.
the national register of craftsmen, as a pioneering precise and detailed data on crafts and craftsmen in bahrain, will be a reference point platform for developing programs and future strategies aimed at empowering craftsmen, developing their businesses and skills, and ensuring their sustainability. nurturing a new generation of makers is essential for the proliferation of craft, with a need for adequate training, support and role models to encourage those with a desire to learn, preserving, thus, yesterday’s skills for tomorrow. therefore, this national register of craftsmen will serve as a bridge and a relay between old skilled artisans and younger talented lovers of this art that safeguards the bahraini cultural identity.
indeed, bahrain culture authority, and as part of its strategy, is keen to highlight the importance of tangible living cultural heritage, which is embodied in traditional crafts and is an integral part of any nation which reflects the culture and tradition of bahrain. there is no doubt that baca supports handicrafts and traditional crafts, which are among the most to address those issues in order to contribute to the sustainability of traditional craft heritage and ensure continuous transmission of craft skills and knowledge from generation to generation. it is an exceptional investment material due to its specificity for each region, and its impact on the social and geographical environment, natural resources and others.
worth to mention that since the launch of the national registry of craftsmen project, baca has so far been able to register nearly 200 artisans within eight general classifications of traditional and modern crafts (vegetable, mineral, clay, textiles, wood and others). in addition, the registry database will include the personal data of craftsmen, types of crafts in which they work, classification of the level of craftsmen (amateurs, practitioners, experts, trainers), years of experience and practice, level of education and production capacity, in addition to places of practice of crafts and other detailed information about crafts and their historical and heritage depth in bahraini culture.
