INTERNATIONAL HANDICRAFTS PROJECT

The Closing Gala of the International Handicrafts Project, carried out by the Tradesmen and Craftsmen Association (ESDER) and co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme, took place in Ankara on the evening of 26 October 2026. Marking the end of a one-year process, the gala brought together all stages of the project and shared its results with the public. Representatives of public institutions, civil society organisations and the press, craftspeople, artists, project partners and guests from the Netherlands and North Macedonia filled the hall.

​

Opening Speeches
The evening opened with speeches by Mahmut Çelikus, President of ESDER; Vahit Sadal, Expert at the Turkish National Agency; and Ömer Yıldız, Vice President of the Yunus Emre Institute. The speakers highlighted the role of handicrafts in passing cultural heritage from one generation to the next and in offering young people a profession.

​

A Documentary Premiere
The Handicrafts Documentary, the first and most comprehensive documentary in its field, had its gala screening. Built on interviews with three craftspeople and three experts from three countries, the documentary explores the present and the future of handicrafts from different perspectives. A plaque of appreciation was presented to the documentary's director, Mustafa Selim Çelikus.

​

Photo Exhibition and Award Ceremony
A photo exhibition of works from the International Handicrafts Photo Contest opened during the evening, bringing traditional crafts from around the world together with a contemporary eye. The contest drew 3,756 photographs from 798 photographers. At the award ceremony, first place went to Ali İhsan Öztürk from Türkiye for his photograph of the hallaç wool-fluffing craft in Bahçesaray, Van; second place to Maizal from Indonesia for a photograph of Silungkang songket weaving; and third place to Kyaw Zayar Lin from Myanmar for a photograph of lotus thread making on Inle Lake. The 109 winning works were also published in the World Handicrafts Photo Catalogue, with descriptions in Turkish and English.

 

The Şed Kuşatma Ceremony on Stage
One of the most memorable moments of the night was the Şed Kuşatma Ceremony, staged as a theatre performance with tradespeople who are members of ESDER in the cast. Portraying a journeyman becoming a master in the Ahi tradition, the performance brought the centuries-old master-apprentice tradition to life on stage.

 

A Gala Shared with the World
The gala was broadcast live with four cameras, so that viewers who could not attend were able to follow it as it happened. Giant LED screens and a professional sound system enriched the evening visually, and the programme continued with dinner. The event ended with the presentation of plaques of appreciation to the institutions and people who contributed to the project.

​

"A Step Towards Global Fellowship"
Speaking after the programme, ESDER President Mahmut Çelikus said: "Handicrafts carry economic, cultural and social value at the same time. The true capital of handicrafts is patience, and patience is what our young people need most today. Handicrafts are also an envoy, carrying yesterday into today and today into tomorrow. We made this possible with the support of the Turkish National Agency. It was a joyful crowd and an evening full of art, with artists from around the world, their representatives and participants from Türkiye all together. With this project, we have also taken a step towards global fellowship."

​

What the Project Achieved
Over one year, the project held a traditional handicrafts workshop in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and a recycled handicrafts workshop in Skopje, North Macedonia. Interviews were conducted with craftspeople, and a handicrafts survey was carried out; its report was prepared and shared with the relevant institutions. The International Handicrafts Photo Contest, the World Handicrafts Photo Catalogue and the Handicrafts Documentary complete the lasting legacy of the project.