The Living Cultural Heritage Business Support protocol between KOSGEB and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Research and Education was signed by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Ersoy and Minister of Industry and Technology Mr. Varank at Istanbul Atatürk Cultural Center.
Turkey is one of the exemplary countries with its efforts and activities in the field of intangible cultural heritage. It is the fourth country to register the highest number of cultural values by joining UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List with 21 elements. In addition, since 2008, it has declared valuable figures who strengthen the cultural link between the past and the present as Living Human Treasures.
In order to ensure the sustainability of such activities in the field of traditional arts and crafts, Turkey has recently taken another important step under the name of Living Cultural Heritage Business Support.
The Living Cultural Heritage Enterprises Support will support the training of new artisans within the framework of the master-apprentice relationship. These enterprises will be supported with a non-refundable upper limit of 250 thousand liras under the headings of establishment, operation and training, machinery and equipment, promotion and marketing.
The Traditional Arts Association, which devotes itself to the promotion of traditional arts and crafts in a healthy, accurate and effective manner, supports artisans, artists and academicians in order to ensure that these arts are valued and passed on to future generations. In this context, it supports the Living Cultural Heritage Enterprises Support Program to revive our professions that are about to disappear, to support the training of new artisans in this field and to ensure that this accumulation is passed on to future generations. The details of this support program, which small workshops and businesses that strive to keep our traditional arts and crafts alive with a thousand difficulties can easily apply, are given below.
Purpose of the Program
To ensure the survival and transfer of this accumulation to future generations by strengthening the enterprises operating in professions that have traditional, cultural, artistic value and are about to disappear, which are carried out within the framework of the master-apprentice relationship in order to ensure the transfer of the values, philosophy and subtleties of the profession, the execution of which requires mastery/craftsmanship skills, to future generations.
Who is supported?
Businesses operating in the fields included in the List of Vanishing Professions with Traditional, Cultural or Artistic Value published by the Ministry of Trade
Establishments whose owner is issued an artist identification card by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Businesses of individuals whose owners are included in the National Inventory of Living Human Treasures can receive support.
These enterprises must be sole proprietorships owned by the applicant.
What are the Supports Under the Program?
The non-refundable support program aims to transfer traditional, cultural and artistic professions to future generations.
450 enterprises across Turkey will be able to benefit from the support program.
Establishment Support: 5.000 TL
Enterprise and Breeding Support: Between 5.000 – 50.000 TL
Machinery and Equipment Support: 50.000 TL
Promotion and Marketing Support: Between 5.000-20.000 TL
How to Apply?
Pre-applications will be made electronically on the internet address vatandas.ktb.gov.tr between June 24, 2022 / July 22, 2022. You can log in to the system with your e-government password. Matters to be considered in the pre-application:
The information requested in the application form should be filled in as required in order to make an adequate assessment of the applicant and the activity carried out.
The video recording to be attached to the application must be in MP4 (MPEG-4) format of at least 10 (ten) and at most 15 (fifteen) minutes showing each part of the workshop and product samples, where the applicant is clearly seen while performing his/her art.
The photographs to be included in the application attachment should be a maximum of 10 (ten) and consist of different photographs showing only the completed works.
Businesses whose pre-application is accepted will continue the application process for the support program through KOSGEB-SME Information System (KBS) between 15 August 2022 / 02 September 2022. https://edevlet.kosgeb.gov.tr/EHizmetler?ReturnUrl=%2f
The application conditions in the second phase are as follows:
Having passed the pre-application process
Real person status as defined in the Turkish Commercial Code
Registered and active in the SME Information System (KBS)
SME Information Declaration is up to date
Following KOSGEB’s announcement of the call, pre-applications to be made by enterprises will be received by the General Directorate of Research and Training until 23.59 on Friday, August 5, 2022. The list of those who can apply will be announced to the relevant enterprises. KOSGEB will then receive the final applications through the SME Information System and evaluate them in the board to be established. The Board will evaluate and decide on the final applications.
