"Yağcıbedir Carpet: From Tradition to Future"

Project Summary:
Sındırgı is a region of Turkey famous for its traditional carpet weaving art. With this project, it is aimed to preserve the historical texture of the Yağcıbedir carpet and to transfer traditional carpet weaving techniques to new generations. In addition, new tools will be developed for the digitalisation of carpet weaving art and its promotion in the global market. This project is a candidate to be supported by Erasmus+ funds in order to protect the carpet weaving tradition as a cultural heritage and contribute to the local economy. For this purpose, by establishing a Yağcıbedir Carpet Museum in our district, our tradition, which is about to be lost, will be transferred to future generations and kept alive. In this way, it is aimed to increase rural tourism in our district.

Project Objectives:
To establish the Yağcıbedir Carpet Museum.
Preservation of traditional weaving techniques of Yağcıbedir carpet in digital environment.
To increase the interest of local people and especially young people in the art of carpet weaving.
To publicise the cultural heritage of Sındırgı at a global level by promoting the art of carpet weaving.
To support the sale of carpets in the digital market in order to contribute to the local economy.
To create an online training platform that will enable the transfer of Yağcıbedir carpet with educational materials.

Target Group:
Local artisans and young people and women interested in carpet weaving
Local NGOs and municipalities active in the field of cultural heritage
Cultural tourism participants from Europe and other countries
Educators and digital content producers

Project Activities:
Establishing Yağcıbedir Carpet Museum: Our carpets, which are about to disappear and woven with traditional methods, will be exhibited in the museum we will establish.

Training and Workshops: Workshops will be organised with local artisans and experts to teach the weaving techniques of the Yağcıbedir carpet. Participants will gain weaving skills with traditional carpet weaving techniques and modern technologies.

Promotion of Cultural Heritage: Digital content will be created to promote the Yağcıbedir carpet. Through social media campaigns, video content and digital exhibitions, Yağcıbedir carpet will be presented to the global market.

Fairs and Local Marketing: Events where carpets are exhibited will be organised and a digital marketplace promoting Sındırgı's traditional carpets will be established. Thus, the products of local producers will be presented to the European markets.

International Cooperation and Exchange Programmes: Knowledge and experience will be shared through cooperation with experts in the field of cultural heritage and handicrafts from Europe.

Expected Results:
By establishing the Yağcıbedir Carpet Museum, the important values of our district will be protected and thus the cultural heritage will be conveyed to a wide audience.
Creating opportunities for artisans producing Yağcıbedir carpets to sell in the digital market.
Promoting the cultural heritage of Sındırgı at the international level and increasing cultural tourism.
Increasing the interest of young people and local people in the art of carpet weaving.