New museum seeks to preserve Emirati crafts through design, research and innovation.
Sharjah: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council has announced the launch of Irthi Museum, the region’s first museum dedicated to contemporary crafts. The museum aims to preserve authentic Emirati craft traditions, reinterpret them through a contemporary lens and pass them on to future generations.
The launch marks a decade of Irthi’s efforts to revive Emirati crafts, empower artisans and strengthen the role of traditional craftsmanship within the cultural and creative sector, further cementing Sharjah’s position as a regional hub for contemporary crafts.
Irthi Museum will serve as a permanent cultural institution dedicated to preserving, documenting and showcasing the evolution of contemporary crafts in the UAE and across the wider region.
The museum will also promote research, education, design innovation and collection development, while deepening public engagement with crafts, creating new opportunities for artisans and supporting the transfer of knowledge and expertise to future generations.
Located within Sharjah Creative Quarter alongside specialised cultural and creative institutions, the museum forms part of an ecosystem designed to support the growth of the cultural and creative industries. It also builds on Sharjah’s longstanding commitment to preserving cultural heritage, particularly following its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.
Reem Bin Karam, Director-General of Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, said: “The Irthi Museum stands as a living bridge between heritage techniques and contemporary expressions, a promise to preserve our rich craft practices and carry them forward into the future. It is a celebration of craft not as a preserved relic, but as a vibrant and evolving legacy.”
