ICH Courier

The Traditional Arts Association (Geleneksel Sanatlar Derneği; hereinafter GSD) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the development and sustainability of traditional arts and crafts—an essential part of Türkiye’s intangible cultural heritage(ICH). The Association works to promote these arts, ensure their intergenerational transmission, raise awareness, and carry out projects for the public good.

For over 20 years, the GSD has implemented more than 100 national and international projects and events. It has published over 40 resources, including books, ary series, peer-reviewed journals, and inventory studies focused on traditional arts and crafts. The Association also acts as a bridge between artisans and academic institutions, fostering collaboration and building long-term networks between practice and theory.

The GSD has a community of 15,000 individuals, including distinguished academics, specialized experts, and recognized bearers of cultural heritage. While deeply rooted in Türkiye, The GSD also strives to

increase global recognition of traditional Turkish arts and crafts. Since 2018, the Traditional Arts Association has been an accredited NGO under the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, actively contributing to international cultural dialogue and safeguarding efforts.

Masters of Türkiye: A Landmark Inventory Project
One of the Association’s most significant initiatives is the ‘Masters of Türkiye’ project, launched in 2010. The project aims to inventory Türkiye’s artisans, institutions, workshops, and organizations engaged in the practice and transmission of traditional arts and crafts.

As the first and most comprehensive project of its kind in Türkiye, ‘Masters of Türkiye’ comprises an online interactive map, a printed book, an e-book, and a trilingual website (Turkish, English, Arabic). These platforms provide detailed profiles of artisans, universities, research centers, and NGOs.

The database includes geographical, demographic, and artistic branch statistics, alongside photographs and contact information for each entry. The project’s goal is to and make visible the richness of Türkiye’s cultural heritage while supporting its transmission to future generations. It also aims to inform national and local cultural policies by serving as a foundational resource for researchers, institutions, and decision-makers. Aligned with the objectives of the UNESCO 2003 Convention, it enhances both ation and identification processes, enabling broader and more effective safeguarding efforts (mastersofturkiye.org).

Contributions to the Türkiye Culture Road Festival
Another major contribution of the Association is its extensive participation in the Türkiye Culture Road Festival—the largest cultural and arts festival in the country, organized by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and a member of the European Festivals Association. The festival spans 20 cities, and in each one, the GSD organizes exhibitions, workshops, seminars, design charrettes, and panel discussions.

These activities emphasize the living heritage unique to each city, showcasing how traditional crafts are shaped by geography and local culture. Through hands-on workshops, the GSD promotes the public’s direct engagement with traditional crafts, while design charrettes bring together artisans and youth to focus on the transmission of skills and practices. Additionally, the GSD organizes academic panels within the festival to shed light on the past, present, and future of important crafts. These panels are part of a broader set of academic initiatives that include the publication of a peer-reviewed journal, organizing national symposiums, and compiling theses and academic papers into books. Together, these efforts contribute to the research, promotion, and preservation of traditional arts and crafts from an academic perspective.

Competitions to Encourage Creativity and  Interdisciplinary Thinking
To further support, encourage, and raise the visibility of traditional arts and crafts, the Association has organized numerous award-winning competitions. These are designed not only to support the production of artifacts but also to foster interdisciplinary approaches to intangible cultural heritage. The GSD’s art competitions celebrate the creative expressions of young and emerging artists working within traditional forms. At the same time, the Association has launched initiatives such as the Intangible Cultural Heritage Photography Competition

and the Living Heritage Short Film Competition, which are  aimed at developing interdisciplinary thinking and increasing public awareness of living heritage through visual and digital media.  These competitions play a vital role in enhancing visibility, encouraging new interpretations of heritage, and engaging younger generations in the safeguarding process.

Policy Engagement and Advisory Role
In addition to cultural and artistic programming, the Association provides consultancy to both governmental and private institutions. One of its most significant contributions is in the preparation of UNESCO nomination files. The GSD coordinates between the executing agencies and cultural bearers, facilitates the collection of letters of consent, and supports the writing and structuring of nominations, ensuring that all stakeholders are actively involved in the process.
This advisory role demonstrates the Association’s ability to support identification, ation, and policy development around intangible cultural heritage.

Conclusion 
The Traditional Arts Association plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Türkiye’s ICH by addressing all key aspects of cultural preservation: visibility, identification, ation, research, preservation, promotion, enhancement, and transmission. Through major initiatives like ‘Masters of  Türkiye,’ its contributions to the Türkiye Culture Road Festival, academic engagement, competitions, and policy support, the Association continues to strengthen the ties between past and future generations. By uniting tradition bearers, young creatives, researchers, and institutions, The GSD ensures that traditional arts and crafts in Türkiye remain vibrant, relevant, and alive—today and for the future.