SAUDI

A LEADER IN PROMOTING HERITAGE

There are several organizations in Saudi Arabia that work for promoting and preserving the Kingdom’s culture and heritage. Among them The Art of Heritage stands out with its commitment to excellence in social improvement and fine gift production. At the core of the group is the Kingdom's largest and oldest women's charity - Al Nahda. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in October 2012, Al Nahda is based in Riyadh with activities covering all over the Kingdom. The Art of Heritage was previously known as the Heritage Center (a division of Al Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women). The Heritage Center was founded nearly 25 years ago but was restructured and registered as a private company in July 2009. The group has an extensive collection of museum quality original garments, textiles, jewelry, household artifacts, doors and chests that represent a unique source of authentic reference materials on the early traditions and history of the Kingdom.
Today, the Art of Heritage is a leader in the field of promoting and preserving Saudi heritage. It specializes in the production of extremely fine hand embroidered reproduction garments and accessories. The group also supports Yadawy, the region's only resource for authentic handmade pottery created by extremely talented, disabled Saudi women.
The main objective of establishing the group was to continue the charity's past efforts but in a new private sector form that will allow the promotion and acceleration of all its commercial goals.
The respected School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), with its London Middle East Institute (LMEI), are working with the Art of Heritage on a collaborative research fellowship program.
The program's objective is to create a well-documented and researched reference source that covers and documents the historic origins and symbolic meanings of traditional garments, textiles, household artifacts and jewelry in Saudi Arabia. This two-year research project will explore the previously unknown history of the evolution of how certain styles, symbols and patterns came to be adopted and identified with a particular region of Saudi Arabia.
The rich mix of colors, varied textiles and the diverse styles as different as traditional Najdi thobes and abayas to the brilliant, flower covered garments of Asir that are worn by both men and women are all a part of Saudi tradition that has not yet been fully understood or recorded. This comprehensive project will begin to identify the sources of these widely different regional styles starting with oral histories collected over decades by the Art of Heritage and Al Nahda Society. The most important part of the research is the extensive collection of original garments and artifacts all painstakingly collected by the women of Art of Heritage and Al Nahda since the early 1980s. The research will also use European, Turkish and Arab world museum records and references, original old manuscripts, early pictures and drawings as part of the background reference material. This extensive and in-depth research will include original records from early Haj records and travelers' histories.
The final reports of the research are expected in early 2013 and the group hopes to publish the results and create a permanent museum exhibition and traveling international museum show based on the Art of Heritage Collection.
The group has been asked by the Saudi museum authorities to open an implant store in the Riyadh National Museum. The new shop will offer traditional Saudi costumes, accessories and gifts.
The Museum Authority has commended the works of the Art of Heritage Group and said it is a very welcome addition to the museum. According to the authority, the group’s gifts and souvenirs are a perfect match for it. “Their pottery items, beautiful dresses and accessories, abayas and traditional gifts are excellent and a very good addition to the museum,” the authority said. At the end of museum tours, visitors are usually seeking small gifts and souvenirs that represent a typical Saudi gift. In addition, the products displayed by the Art of Heritage at the shop in the Riyadh Museum have attracted a lot of visitors.
The group’s Yadawy pottery project is a new approach to corporate social responsibility and career development for disabled women. Based in Riyadh, Yadawy pottery has become a symbol of what talented women can do no matter what the challenges they face - when given the right working environment and strong corporate support. Begun as a small unit in Al Nahda, Yadawy made pottery only for charity bazaars. Today under Art of Heritage, Yadawy has begun to be known as a beautiful brand of
unique Saudi pottery. Yadawy products have already won the applause of visitors. Its beautiful potteries are made by a very talented group of disabled Saudi women. Through this special project, the charity has found a place for itself in the world through the beauty of their products.
The Yadawy pottery is not only beautiful, it a part of the Kingdom’s past heritage as much as were its classic dresses and bisht. Before supermarkets, household cooking utensils and cups or simple items were made of clay. The Yadawy pottery is made from clays found in Madinah and Qassim.
Yadawi products satisfy everyone that their gift is a gift both ways to person receiving it and the one making it. What could be more socially responsible than this? And the Art of Heritage can proud of this unique brand.