New Sharjah museum will be region’s first dedicated to contemporary crafts

The Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council has announced the establishment of Irthi Museum, a pioneering institution dedicated to contemporary craft in the United Arab Emirates and the broader region. This museum, set to launch in the Sharjah Creative Quarter, will house a permanent collection showcasing the evolution of craft in the area. While the opening date remains to be confirmed, Irthi's representative disclosed during the Nomad UAE edition that the museum is slated to open in 2029.

Irthi Museum will serve not only as a repository of contemporary craft but also as a hub for research, education, and design. Its primary mission is to preserve, document, and present the development of contemporary craft while fostering opportunities for artisans and facilitating the transfer of craft knowledge to future generations.

Reem BinKaram, the museum's director-general, emphasized that the Irthi Museum serves as a bridge connecting heritage techniques with modern expressions, celebrating craft as a dynamic and evolving legacy rather than a static relic.

The museum's establishment follows a decade-long effort by Irthi to revitalize Emirati crafts and empower artisans. Founded in 2016, Irthi initially focused on traditional crafts practiced by Emirati women. In 2019, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Irthi's founder and royal patron, highlighted the organization's role in providing vocational training, enabling artisans to earn sustainable incomes, and discovering markets for their work both locally and internationally.

Through its Bidwa Social Development Programme in Dibba Al Hisn, Irthi has trained both younger and older women in traditional techniques such as palm-frond weaving (safeefah) and talli embroidery, ensuring these skills are passed down to newer generations.

Irthi has consistently merged traditional crafts with contemporary design, evident in its initial product line of 78 pieces across 12 collections, ranging from furniture and jewelry to handbags and perfume bottles. These pieces were created by Emirati artisans collaborating with international designers and craft practitioners. Collaborations with safeefah woven with camel leather and art pieces combining Emirati clay with Murano glass are notable examples.

Irthi's partnerships with fashion and luxury brands, including Cartier and Bulgari, further demonstrate its ability to blend traditional Emirati crafts with modern aesthetics. Recent projects, such as the Tilad Collection created with Mexican artist Ricardo Rendon, further exemplify this fusion, incorporating safeefah and talli techniques with Mexican craft traditions and pine wood, all produced by women artisans.