Protecting cultural heritage means making history a relevant part of the present and future — and empowering communities to be their own best heritage advocates.

This philosophy is the driving force of the new Global Heritage Fund Sustainable Community Development Program. This year, our partnership with The Intrepid Foundation is supporting community development to protect the cultural heritage of Sagalassos, a magnificent historic site nestled in the coastal mountains of Turkey. Home to a variety of civilizations over more than a millennium of human settlement, Sagalassos is today an important archaeological destination and irreplaceable treasure of the ancient world.

The extreme isolation of the region is both a blessing and a curse. Although largely protecting from looting and vandalism, the temples of Sagalassos have continuously suffered from weathering and ongoing erosion. As the fragile remains crumble, the larger cultural network has also deteriorated. With local youth increasingly drawn to far-off cities in search of employment, no one is left to learn traditional handicrafts and sustainable building techniques — and these irreplaceable skills are fading away.

This is where the Global Heritage Fund Sustainable Community Development Program is making a difference. In addition to protecting the physical remains of Sagalassos, we’re engaging the nearby community of Ağlasun to help local men and women protect their cultural heritage by building new skills and revitalizing creative industries.

This year, we partnered with The Intrepid Foundation — the not-for-profit arm of Intrepid Travel — to protect cultural heritage through grassroots community capacity building. With local nonprofit Anatolian Artisans and the support of The Intrepid Foundation, we held a workshop with master ceramic artist Nuray Ada to teach 15 Ağlasun women skills inspired by Sagalassos’s rich ceramic history and unique designs.

The Ağlasun trainees learned to produce ceramic pieces decorated with designs from Sagalassos. Photo: Global Heritage Fund

Over 12 days, the women produced more than 300 ceramic pieces with designs based on pottery excavated from Sagalassos. The trainees, such as 31-year-old Hatice, were proud to highlight and protect the region’s historic ceramic production. “This craft is unique to Ağlasun,” Hatice explains. “Sagalassos was famous for ceramic production. The relation with the ancient city of Sagalassos makes ceramic production unique to Ağlasun.”

Left: Learning to produce the ceramic pieces. Right: A design based on floor mosaics of the Neon library at Sagalassos. Photos: Global Heritage Fund

In addition to protecting the history of Sagalassos, the ceramic workshop is also benefiting the women. Hatice is happy to have new opportunities to support herself outside of her home. “Now I do not have to stay at home all the time. I can come here to pass time with friends, and I am less dependent on my husband.”

Hatice isn’t the only craftswomen enjoying new-found independence. Trainee Rafiye also appreciates how the ceramics workshop has helped local women build paths to new sources of income and improve their communities and families. When her son wanted to participate in a drama course at school, Rafiye was able to support his dream thanks to the income she earned through this ceramics training. “These economic benefits are important,” she says. “Now, I can support my child.”

Trainee Hamire agrees that the ceramics workshop has helped expand her opportunities and support her family. “Before, I didn’t even feel comfortable while walking on the streets in the village,” she says. “The training helped me build self-confidence, and now I am contributing to my family budget. I no longer depend on my husband for small expenses.”

Left: Ayse and Hamire learn to create and decorate pieces. Right: Hatice and Rafiye demonstrate their new ceramic skills. Photos: Global Heritage Fund

The ceramics training is transforming cultural heritage into a modern economic asset for the residents of Ağlasun. Around the world, this crucial process can make an enormous difference for historic sites, especially areas with high tourism potential such as Sagalassos. By making cultural heritage an economic asset for modern men and women, we engage communities as heritage advocates to protect sites in the long term.

While promoting sustainable cultural heritage tourism, it’s particularly important to engage women. As our partners at The Intrepid Foundation explain:

The tourism industry, as a whole, offers women an accessible entry point into the workforce — plus a promising career path towards leadership positions. Actively empowering women is not just useful for gender equality; it is one of the most effective ways to grow economies and improve standards of living for everyone.

The 15 women trained in this first workshop will soon teach the next intake of 15 women. As the trainees continue to refine their skills, their ceramics will build more awareness of Sagalassos and eventually increase tourism in the area. The Ağlasun trainees are eager to share their cultural heritage with visitors. “Producing these unique items will catch the attention of tourists, and more people will want to visit Ağlasun,” hopes trainee Ayşe. Other trainees agree: “I hope visitors buy our products, and they spread the word,” says Hamire. “What we are producing is unique,” adds Nagihan, “and if we can grow the workshop, it will attract tourists.”

Left: Nagihan decorates a newly-crafted ceramic piece. Right: The workshop trainees after twelve days of ceramic training. Photos: Global Heritage Fund

Our programs supporting the women of Ağlasun are possible thanks to the generosity of organizations such as The Intrepid Foundation — and donors like you. Thank you for your support.