Case Study: The Artisans House
A National Model for Heritage & Creative Economy
The Challenge
The sector required more than preservation — it needed a unified national system that could:
Standardize operations and quality across multiple houses.
Provide training pipelines for new generations of artisans.
Connect crafts to markets with modern business models.
Ensure crafts are sustainable, competitive, and visible under Vision 2030.
Our Role
Rukun was commissioned by the Heritage Commission to lead the design and delivery of the Artisans House Strategy and Operating Model. This extended beyond an operational plan into a full national framework, including:
Baseline Assessments: Reviewing existing houses, market gaps, and regional needs.
Strategic Framework: Building a vision and system that aligns with national cultural goals.
Operating Models: Developing governance, training systems, value-chain models, and standardized templates.
Capacity Building: Designing workshops, curricula, and scorecards for artisans and managers.
Stakeholder Engagement: Hosting workshops and meetings with artisans, local communities, and partner institutions across Saudi Arabia.
Solution
The framework integrated global best practices in management with Saudi cultural realities. Key solutions included:
Governance Models: For rural and urban craft houses, tailored to contextتقرير الانجازات 2.
Value Chain System: A unified model covering production, quality control, marketing, and sales.
Balanced Scorecards: Nine operational goals and ten KPIs to measure performance.
Training Programs: From safety and standards to entrepreneurship, ensuring artisans can scale their impact.
Community Integration: Positioning houses as cultural and tourism destinations, not just production sites.
Achievements
By 2024, the initiative achieved major milestonesتقرير الانجازات 2:
13+ operational models deployed across regions (e.g., Makkah, Qassim, Najran, Eastern Province).
Workshops & Training: Over 9 analytical workshops, multiple executive meetings, and professional training sessions delivered.
National Templates: Standardized contracts, governance policies, and KPIs for all houses.
Pilots: Rural house models tested in Qassim and Najran; urban models activated in Makkah and Eastern Province.
Value Chain Integration: Product development and market strategies piloted in craft markets and fairs.
Impact
The Craft Houses initiative now serves as:
A national blueprint for handicraft preservation and modernization.
A driver of economic opportunities, turning heritage into viable livelihoods.
A platform for cultural tourism, attracting both local and global audiences.
A contribution to Vision 2030 by linking identity, innovation, and economic diversification.
Background
Saudi Arabia’s craft heritage is centuries deep — weaving, woodwork, pottery, jewelry, and beyond — yet the sector faced risks of decline without structured support. To preserve and modernize this legacy, the Heritage Commission launched the Artisans House Initiative: a nationwide network of spaces for training, production, and cultural exchange.
