Turkey Design Council has initiated an EU project as coordinator, "From Ancient Anatolian Crafts to Contemporary Designs" with CCH-II/231 code financed under the “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II) in partnership with Brumen Foundation (Slovenia) and Traditional Arts Association (Turkey).
It is aimed to spread the examples of ancient values combined with contemporary designs in Turkey and Europe within the scope of this project, which was launched to carry the Anatolian crafts at risk of disappearance into the future by means of intercultural cooperation. During the project, five of the traditional crafts, which are the cultural heritage of Anatolian lands, will be promoted in Europe. Fritware with quartz, felt making, quilting, stonework/carving, and inlay were determined to be implemented in the project. It is planned to create a video archive of Anatolian crafts by making short films in which each master explains the ropes of craft, materials, and production techniques in their own workshop.
In the next phase of the project, short films introducing Anatolian crafts will be shared with professionals and institutions working in the field of design in Europe, and European designers will be called for reinterpreting the ancient production disciplines of Anatolia with the current approaches of their expertise and submit their design ideas.
The 10 designs selected among the drafts will bring European designers together with Anatolian craftsmen in Turkey for an intercultural experience of a common production process. With the current designs to be implemented in this process, the basis will be prepared for the transfer of experience of ancient craft disciplines to future generations. It is planned to exhibit 10 products that will be prototyped at the end of the project, which will last 15 months in total, in May 2022 in Istanbul.
An Advisory Board consisting of experts in their fields was determined for the project. This board will support the project on issues such as determining five of the ancient Anatolian crafts, ensuring communication with craftsmen, selecting 10 designs by evaluating the design ideas from Europe, developing cross-border dialogue and cooperation with professional and institutions working in the field of design in Turkey and Europe.
The advisory board consists of the following names:
Prof. Dr. Gülname Turan – Board Member, Turkey Design Council
Mehmet Ali Güveli - Board Member, Turkey Design Council
Ajda Schmidt – Board Member, Brumen Foundation
Dr. Aslıhan Erkmen Birkandan – General Secretary, Traditional Art Association
Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan – Artist & Founder, BAKSI Museum
Doç. Dr. Seza Sinanlar Uslu – Lecturer, Yıldız Technical University Art Department
Maeve Murphy – Board Member, The Design & Crafts Council Ireland
From Ancient Anatolian Crafts to Contemporary Design is supported under the “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II)” implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with the financial support of the European Union. The “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II)” aims at promotion and enhancement of common cultural heritage activities implemented in partnership between Turkish and EU organizations. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is the responsible institution for the technical implementation of the Grant scheme Programme, while the Central Finance and Contracts Unit is the Contracting Authority.
This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication is the sole responsibility of Turkey Design Council and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
