Rize Living Heritage Festival Launches at Çay Çarşısı

The three‑day Rize Yaşayan Miras Şöleni (Living Heritage Festival) opened on 7‑9 August 2026 in Rize’s historic Çay Çarşısı. Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism together with the Rize Governorship, Rize Municipality and the Mustafa Baştan Culture and Art Association, the event showcases 45 registered cultural heritage carriers, including 11 intangible heritage items and 30 traditional crafts.

Governor Ihsan Selim Baydaş, Deputy Mayor Abdulkadir Öksüz and Culture and Tourism Director Alper Avluk attended the opening. Artisans demonstrated techniques such as calligraphy, carpet weaving, pottery, metalwork and traditional instrument making, allowing visitors to watch and even try the crafts. Participants emphasized the goal of transmitting the region’s cultural legacy to younger generations.

The festival brings together roughly 50 master craftsmen from 17 Turkish provinces, offering live workshops and exhibitions that aim to boost the local economy and preserve Rize’s intangible cultural heritage.