The Cultural Fund, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program, has launched the first track of its Namaa Accelerators initiative, focusing on handicrafts. The launch coincides with the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and is a significant step aimed at empowering cultural and craft establishments to become sustainable economic contributors.
Program Overview and Mission
The Namaa Accelerators initiative is a qualitative step to enhance the competitiveness of cultural and craft enterprises in the market. The mission of the Handicrafts track is to build a new generation of artisans capable of transforming their skills into sustainable projects that contribute to diversifying the national economy and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The program is a collaboration with the Heritage Commission, The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts “Wirth”, and “Saudi Crafts”.
What Participants Will Receive
The program is structured in multiple phases to provide comprehensive support:
- Phase 1 (Training Camp): The initial phase involved a 25-hour intensive training camp for 113 craft establishments, blending artisanal skills with entrepreneurship.
- Phase 2 (The Accelerator): 40 establishments from 7 different regions were selected for a 14-week accelerator that includes:
- Specialized training programs.
- Mentorship sessions from over 20 experts.
- A self-learning platform with 100 knowledge materials.
- Phase 3 (The Support Phase): A 3-month phase to connect the craft projects with:
- More than 15 investment entities.
- Developmental services from 10 specialized entities to support local expansion.
A Market Ripe with Opportunity
Data from the Heritage Commission indicates that the handicraft market in the Kingdom is estimated at 1.5 billion SAR annually. However, local products currently hold no more than a 20% market share, which reflects the significant opportunities available for national products to grow and expand.
About the Organizers
This initiative is led by the Cultural Fund, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program. It represents a strategic effort to build a new generation of artisans capable of turning their skills into sustainable projects that contribute to the national economy.
Source: Okaz
