Made in Egypt: Traditional handicrafts as Tools for Community Engagement

Abstract

Cultural landscapes are a combination of various features that represent the overall production of mankind. Therefore, the responsibility of museums towards their cultural landscape cannot be accomplished competently without regard to the people living in this landscape. Cultural landscapes, people and traditional handicrafts: the three of them are significantly connected to many museums in Egypt. Traditional handicrafts in particular have considerable value in the cultural scenery in Egypt; many
of them are, however, on the brink of vanishing.
Derived from the existing circumstances and based on the commitment to museums’ role in preserving cultural values, an initiative has been developed to take part in sustaining such cultural landscapes. This paper introduces an action plan to be initiated in all the antiquities museums under supervision of the Museums Sector, Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
“Made in Egypt” is an action plan that focuses on inspiration. Concisely, it is a move to use the past for the benefit of the present and for sustainability in the future. A series of activities are set out to raise the awareness of Egyptian society of both their outstanding past, and their own ability to re‐produce great works of handicrafts. The project’s process will be developed through exhibitions, workshops, competitions and marketplaces. Museums will be committed to support their local communities through  developing a set of action plans to help the society overcome its problems and plan for a better way of life for future generations. Thus, this action plan will serve as a mediator in supporting many areas of museums concerns.