Ankara workshop transforms agricultural waste into handmade art paper

In Ankara, a traditional paper workshop is transforming agricultural waste and fibrous plants into handmade art paper. Led by Associate Professor Yusuf Parlak from Düzce University and instructor Şerife Güven, the initiative focuses on sustainability and zero-waste principles.

Unlike industrial papers that use short-fiber trees and chemicals—often degrading within 50 to 100 years—these handmade papers use long-fiber plants and natural methods. This process creates acid-free paper capable of lasting nearly a thousand years. The workshop, located in the Hamamönü art street area, hosts workshops for school groups and visitors to preserve these traditional techniques for future generations.