MUSCAT: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism on Monday launched the documentary film 'Treasures of Omani Craft Heritage' under the auspices of Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy, Minister of Heritage and Tourism.
The documentary sheds light on Oman’s national crafts, exploring their diverse components. It aims to introduce selected elements of the craft heritage present in Oman, focusing on the aesthetic and utilitarian values embedded in the authenticity of handmade products while reinforcing national identity and ensuring its sustainability.
The film features a number of traditional crafts, including palm leaf weaving, copper and metalwork, textile weaving, stone and gypsum crafting, woodworking, mat weaving, pottery making, copperware manufacturing and engraving (Al Tasfeer), wool weaving, cotton weaving, gypsum plaster crafting, and the craft of Al Manjour (traditional wood turning).
The documentary aims to document Oman’s traditional crafts as an authentic component of the nation’s cultural heritage. It seeks to safeguard inherited craft knowledge, skills, and expertise and transmit them to future generations. The film also highlights crafts at risk of extinction or those with declining numbers of practitioners, underscoring their cultural and civilisational significance. It documents the various production stages, including raw materials, tools, and inherited techniques.
The documentary further fosters public awareness of the importance of Omani craft heritage and its role in preserving national cultural identity. It showcases the contributions of Omani artisans and their role in ensuring the continuity of craft practices across generations. Additionally, it provides documentary and reference material to support studies, research, and programmes concerned with cultural heritage. Finally, the film encourages artisans to balance authenticity with contemporary uses through product development.
The launching ceremony included the presentation of two working papers. The first, titled 'A Study of White Soil (Kaolin Clay in the Sultanate of Oman),' was jointly presented by the MoHT and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada).
Dr Mohammed bin Hilal al Kindi delivered the paper, which covered the definition of kaolin clay, sedimentary basins, their economic significance, as well as their environmental and economic impact, and locations of occurrence.
Dr Ali bin Obaid al Alawi, Director of the Agricultural Research Department in Al Batinah North Governorate, presented the second working paper titled 'A Study of the Al Mais Tree.'
In his paper, he highlighted the economic and environmental significance of the Omani Al Mais tree.
He affirmed that the tree represents a rare natural heritage and provides national opportunities for ecotourism and economic sustainability. — ONA
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