The new Irthi Museum in Sharjah will celebrate Emirati crafts.
Irthi Museum will be located within Sharjah Creative Quarter.
The permanent institution will focus on the past, present and future of contemporary craft.
Sharjah’s Irthi Museum will be the region’s first museum dedicated to contemporary craft.
Sharjah is adding another cultural attraction to its growing arts and heritage scene. Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council has announced the launch of Irthi Museum, the region’s first museum dedicated to contemporary craft. The new Irthi Museum in Sharjah will celebrate Emirati crafts while also exploring how traditional techniques can be adapted for modern design, art and creative projects.
The announcement comes as Irthi marks 10 years of supporting Emirati artisans, preserving traditional crafts and bringing local heritage to new audiences. Instead of simply displaying traditional crafts as pieces of history, the museum will show how they can continue to evolve through design, research and innovation.
Irthi Museum will be located within Sharjah Creative Quarter, a new cultural district that brings together spaces focused on design, fashion, archives, craft, and other creative industries. The museum will be located alongside institutions including the Sharjah Design Centre, Sharjah Fashion Lab and Qasimi Studio & Archives, creating a wider hub for artists, designers, researchers and craftspeople.
Irthi Museum will be more than a place to view traditional Emirati crafts. The permanent institution will focus on the past, present and future of contemporary craft in the UAE and the wider region. Visitors can expect the museum to explore areas such as craft research, education, design innovation, collections, and public programmes. It will also provide artisans with opportunities to develop their skills, experiment with new ideas and introduce Emirati craft to a wider international audience.
A key part of the museum’s mission will be preserving the knowledge behind traditional crafts and passing it on to future generations. This means looking at craft not as something that belongs only to the past, but as a creative practice that can continue to change and grow.
The launch of Irthi Museum marks another step in Sharjah’s growing cultural landscape and Irthi’s work to preserve and develop Emirati heritage. It aims to connect traditional Emirati craftsmanship with modern design and creativity, helping keep these skills and stories alive for generations to come.
Where: Irthi Museum, Sharjah Creative Quarter, Sharjah
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