Activities in historical sites in conjunction with Eid al-Adha

The House of Craftsmen: An initiative to stimulate efforts to safeguard the intangible heritage in the UAE

A team of Emirati artisans will combine traditional handicraft components with modern materials.

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The House of Craftsmen, affiliated to the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, is preparing for its new cultural initiative, "The Craftsmen Circle", which aims to highlight the importance of traditional handicrafts as one of the most important components of Emirati culture and national identity.

The "Artisans Circle" initiative includes a series of live performances that will be held in multiple locations in Abu Dhabi, where a team of Emirati artisans, in cooperation with business owners, will combine traditional handicraft components with modern materials to produce handicrafts with unique modern touches.

This initiative showcases the techniques of making handicrafts, and highlights the various creative skills of Emirati craftsmen, to highlight its importance as an element of heritage in the UAE.

The first “Artisans Circle” event will be held in Yas Mall, today and tomorrow, in cooperation with the famous sweets shop “Candelcious.” The event will host Emirati craftsmen specialized in traditional marine crafts making “garaqir” nets, but with a different perspective. Attendees and families will enjoy learning about it and its history, and its manufacture during this event as a distinctive fishing net for the collection and distribution of sweets and Eid al-Adha during the upcoming Eid al-Adha.

Salama Al Shamsi, Director of Qasr Al Hosn and Historic Sites and Supervisor of the House of Craftsmen, said: “The Craftsmen Circle is our latest initiative that celebrates the Emirati heritage and contributes to preserving it as a vital component of national identity and an essential element in our contemporary life.

The initiative also comes to stimulate efforts to preserve intangible heritage, as traditional handicrafts tell us a lot about the culture of the UAE and its ancient human heritage.”

She added: "These fun windows full of history and attractive to family members provide the opportunity for visitors to gain knowledge and learn directly from talented craftsmen, and emphasize the importance of transmitting these handicrafts through generations, and empowering them within a creative national system that establishes the value and status of Emirati heritage in our time."

The initiative comes to celebrate, introduce and promote Abu Dhabi's diverse history and heritage in innovative and inspiring ways.

The House of Craftsmen is a valuable addition to the Al-Hosn site, as it is located next to the Al-Hosn Palace and the Cultural Complex, to supplement the cultural offerings and programs offered by the site, aimed at raising awareness of the rich history and aesthetic heritage of the United Arab Emirates, by preserving the cultural authenticity of traditional handicrafts. In Abu Dhabi, the skills and associated practices are preserved through new perspectives.

Skills and materials

The Craftsmen’s House attaches great importance to the intangible Emirati cultural heritage by celebrating the unique artistic and creative relationship that ancestors developed with the surrounding environment to meet the economic and functional needs of the community. Contemporary pieces crafted by emerging and established Emirati artists and designers, and others who have inspired the UAE and its heritage.

Salama Al Shamsi: "Emirati heritage is one of the components of national identity, and an essential element in our contemporary life."

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