VICTORIA, Seychelles — The National Arts and Crafts Council, in collaboration with the University of Seychelles, hosted an artisanal workshop on Wednesday to explore strategies for building a stronger, more sustainable, and better-connected craft industry. The initiative aims to preserve Seychelles’ cultural heritage while increasing the visibility and value of locally made artisanal products.
Participants discussed several priorities for revitalising the sector: revitalising local crafts through exhibitions, demonstrations, cultural events, and youth engagement programmes; networking artisans via a comprehensive database and registration system; ensuring authenticity and quality through certification programmes, standards, and market monitoring; preserving traditional knowledge with mentorship, documentation, and training opportunities for young people; raising public awareness through cultural promotion, exhibitions, and advocacy for authentic handmade products; and strengthening collaboration among artisans, associations, government agencies, and tourism partners.
NACC executive director Jimmy Savy described the workshop as timely, noting that the sector faces serious challenges. Many artisans are ageing, the transmission of knowledge is weak, and basic materials are becoming rarer every day. This workshop is an opportunity to assess these challenges and come up with concrete ideas to put the industry back on its feet. Since assuming responsibility for the sector, NACC has supported artisans through grants, international fair participation, school workshops, and outreach programmes. It has also established a Craft Revival Committee to unite associations and stakeholders in tackling challenges collectively.
Principal secretary for Culture, Arts and National Heritage Cecile Kalebi emphasised the significance of the workshop. Our crafts are unique and differentiate us from the rest of the world. Strengthening the sector supports cultural tourism, diversifies the tourism industry, and creates sustainable livelihoods for local artisans. She highlighted threats such as competition from cheaper imports and declining artisan numbers, stressing the need for clear strategies to ensure long-term sustainability.
Director of Craft Development and Artisanal Affairs Benoit Julius explained that the Craft Revival Committee has been working for three years to identify priorities. The workshop, attended by 51 artisans, will feed into a strategic plan to be presented to authorities, ensuring the artisanal sector gains greater prominence in Seychelles’ development agenda.
The NACC remains committed to supporting Seychellois artisans and preserving traditional craft knowledge.
