Çanakkale Ceramics Preservation Association

In 1992, Mustafa Sevim, who began serving as the Provincial Director of Culture in Çanakkale, initiated a course within the directorate to sustain the tradition of Çanakkale ceramics. Supported by the governor of the time and the Kale Group, a well-equipped workshop was established. Trainees produced significant works by replicating original Çanakkale ceramics. Under the leadership of founding president Göksel Sevim, the Çanakkale Ceramics Preservation Association was established in 1998.

The primary objective of the association is to inventory Çanakkale ceramics both within and outside the province, publish these inventories, and collect published works related to the subject. To achieve this main goal, the association has set the following activities as targets:

• Supporting all kinds of studies aimed at researching Çanakkale ceramics and conducting research trips.
• Organizing seminars, panels, competitions, interviews, and events to promote Çanakkale ceramics.
• Opening educational courses to revive lost Çanakkale ceramics, exhibiting the produced works, and encouraging and supporting those interested in this subject.
• Conducting income-generating activities to support events organized within the association.
• Collaborating with all individuals, institutions, and organizations involved in related studies to realize the above activities.

Association president Göksel Sevim learned and developed traditional Çanakkale ceramic art through the course he attended and was awarded an Artist Certificate in the field of handicrafts by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey in 2009. As of 2024, this certificate is equivalent to the Artist Promotion Card given to bearers of intangible cultural heritage. Göksel Sevim, with the responsibility this certificate entails, has taught classes to ensure the ceramic tradition of Çanakkale is not forgotten and passed on to future generations. He has organized both personal and group exhibitions.

Other members of the association have also continued to promote Çanakkale ceramics through various exhibitions and events both domestically and internationally. The association continues its activities under the name "Traditional Çanakkale Ceramics Preservation Association" to raise awareness about Çanakkale ceramics among the people of Çanakkale and tourists.

P.S. This information is taken from the book titled " Traditional Çanakkale Ceramics and Tourism ", written within the scope of the project numbered 122G047, titled " Evaluation and Development of Traditional Çanakkale Ceramic Production within the Scope of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Its Development in Terms of Tourism ", supported by TÜBİTAK 3005.

Atıf/Cite: Güzel, T., Akgündüz, Y., Sevinç Başol, F., Can, M., Turak, G. & Yalçınkaya, T. (2024). Geleneksel Çanakkale Seramikleri ve Turizm. Detay Yayıncılık. Ankara.