Jeddah – Zawiya 97, a new cultural hub for handicrafts in Historic Jeddah, located next to Nassif House, combines heritage with contemporary creativity as part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative and serves as an interactive platform for local and international artisans to showcase their work.
Throughout July and August, Zawiya 97 hosted more than 60 workshops introducing over 30 traditional crafts to more than 400 participants. The workshops covered various skills, including gypsum carving, wood decoration, mosaic art, as well as soap making and recycling.
In addition to the workshops, Zawiya 97 provides a space for exhibitors to display their products, supporting local brands and contributing to the creative economy.
The initiative aligns with the goals of the Year of Handicrafts 2025, launched by the Ministry of Culture to enhance the status of handicrafts through documentation, support, and development. By empowering artisans to pass on their knowledge to future generations, Zawiya 97 helps preserve a vital part of Saudi cultural identity and serves as a living example of how creative initiatives transform historic sites into vibrant, contemporary platforms.
