Damascus, Feb.10(SANA) The Syrian Ministry of Culture is presenting the Pavilion of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Traditional Crafts at the Damascus International Book Fair as an interactive space highlighting the richness and diversity of Syria’s living heritage. The pavilion brings together UNESCO-recognized elements of intangible cultural heritage alongside live demonstrations of traditional crafts still practiced today.
Globally Recognized Syrian Heritage
Roula Oqeili, director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Directorate at the Ministry of Culture, told SANA that the pavilion features documented presentations of Syrian elements inscribed on UNESCO’s lists of intangible cultural heritage. These include Aleppine Qudud, the oud, shadow theater (Karagoz-style shadow puppetry), the Damask rose, hand-blown glass, Aleppo soap, Arabic kohl, and the bisht (traditional men’s cloak), among the most recently enlisted elements.
She added that the pavilion continuously screens a documentary film lasting about one hour, offering a comprehensive visual presentation of these elements and situating them within their historical and cultural contexts as part of Syria’s living memory.
Craft as a Living Skill
The pavilion focuses on traditional crafts as living skills rather than finished products. Artisans work directly in front of visitors, demonstrating pottery on the wheel, hand weaving on traditional looms, woodworking, Arabic calligraphy, crochet, glassmaking, ceramic tilework, mother-of-pearl inlay, mosaic art, oud making, and Damascene decorative painting. Together, these demonstrations reflect the vitality and continuity of Syria’s traditional crafts.
Traditional Crafts and Cultural Identity
Oqeili noted that the Ministry of Culture places growing emphasis on traditional crafts as expressions of Syrian identity and as key domains of intangible heritage recognized internationally, particularly skills passed down through generations.
The pavilion also displays two traditional costumes: the qandoura from the city of Saraqib in the Idlib countryside, and a traditional outfit from Daraa, alongside a collection of folk costume illustrations drawn from the archives of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Directorate.
Voices from Artisans
Crochet artisan Huda Al-Bani said her participation aims to introduce visitors to a traditional craft long practiced by Syrian women, especially in Damascus. She noted that presenting crochet within the book fair highlights its cultural and social value, as well as its role in empowering women and preserving heritage.
Falak Al-Abdallah, a trainer and artisan specializing in ceramic tilework, said that participating with support from the Ministry of Culture enabled direct interaction with visitors. She observed strong public interest in learning about production techniques and the importance of protecting these crafts from disappearance, stressing the need to revive traditional professions and pass them on to younger generations.
Living Memory of the Nation
Heritage researcher and historian Dr. Ghassan Klass described the Damascus International Book Fair as a significant cultural platform, reflecting what he called Syria’s intellectual revival through the diversity of its titles and themes, catering to different members of the family and offering a broad space for knowledge and reading.
He emphasized that the presence of intangible heritage within the fair holds particular importance, describing it as the living memory of the Syrian people and an expression of their social, economic, and cultural fabric. Traditional handmade crafts, he noted, differ fundamentally from industrial products, as they embody human skill, patience, and creativity, and form an essential part of Syrian cultural identity.
Klass also highlighted the Ministry of Culture’s decision to dedicate a large pavilion to intangible heritage, noting that allowing visitors to watch artisans at work directly helps raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding this heritage from disappearance. He said these crafts—spanning wood, glass, ceramics, paper, and textiles—represent the enduring beauty and historical depth of Syrian culture.
Culture as an Integrated Experience
The Pavilion of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Traditional Crafts at the Damascus International Book Fair reflects a comprehensive cultural vision that connects books and written knowledge with living heritage practices. It underscores the idea of culture as an integrated system and affirms that safeguarding intangible heritage is a central pillar in preserving cultural identity and passing it on to future generations.
M.S
