Museum of the Industrial School

Sivas Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi is a cultural heritage institution distinguished by its multilayered history spanning from the Ottoman period to the present and operating under a “living museum” approach. Constructed in 1902, the building served various functions including as an industrial school, an art school, and a prison before being restored in 2019 and opened to the public as a museum in 2021. The museum assumes the dual role of preserving the historical identity of the building and promoting Sivas-specific traditional crafts.

Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi(Republic of Türkiye Sivas Governorate)

Foundation and Opening

The building was constructed in 1902 by Sivas Governor Reşit Akif Paşa during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II under the name Hamidiye Sanayi Mektebi. The institution aimed to integrate Muslim and non-Muslim children aged five to thirteen, particularly orphans, into society as skilled individuals by providing them with four years of residential vocational education.

In 1939, industrial schools across Türkiye were generally converted into art schools; accordingly, the Sivas institution continued its educational activities as an art school for another 22 years. In 1961, it was converted into a prison by the Ministry of Justice and operated as the Sivas Cezaevi for 58 years.

The building was restored in 2019 by the Sivas Governorship using funding provided under the Cazibe Merkezleri Destekleme Programı implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, in accordance with its original architectural design. Following the restoration, it was opened to the public in July 2021 as the Sivas Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi.

Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi Açılış(Republic of Türkiye Sivas Provincial Special Administration)

Architectural Features

The building features a symmetrical U-shaped plan. The main entrance is located on the western facade. The arcaded courtyard is surrounded by columns with octagonal cross-sections, constructed using a combination of cut stone and rubble stone. The facades display original Ottoman public building architecture adorned with moldings, arches, and wooden decorations.

Museum Sections and Content

The museum includes thematic rooms that recreate its past functions as an educational and penal institution, alongside ethnographic exhibitions:

• Sanayi Mektebi Odası: Educational activities from the building’s earliest period are reenacted.
• Cezaevi Odası: The quarters for female inmates during its time as a prison are depicted.
• Etnografya Bölümü: Objects and traditional items representative of Sivas culture are exhibited.

In addition, the museum building houses a conference hall, cafeteria, retail area, administrative units, and exhibition spaces.

Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi- Sanayi Mektebi Odası(Republic of Türkiye Sivas Governorate)

Traditional Crafts and Courses

In other sections of the museum, seven distinct courses have been established to revive traditional crafts of Sivas that are at risk of being forgotten. These courses include:

• Carpet and kilim weaving
• Knife making
• Comb making
• Copper craftsmanship
• Bağlama making
• Silverwork
• Wooden mouthpieces and pen holders

These training programs are organized in collaboration with the Halk Eğitim Merkezi and the Türkiye İş Kurumu (İŞKUR). Participants who successfully complete the courses receive certificates, and those who wish may obtain master craftsman certification to continue their profession.

Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi- Bakır İşlemeciliği Kursu(TRT News)

Craftsmen’s Bazaar

Adjacent to the museum, under the patronage of the Sivas Governorship, a craftsmen’s bazaar has been constructed with the aim of bringing together master artisans practicing crafts on the verge of disappearance. It is planned that 14 shops within the bazaar will produce goods using traditional methods. A master-apprentice relationship will be established between museum trainees and these artisans to ensure the intergenerational transmission of traditional trades.

Zanaatkârlar Çarşısı (Sivas Culture Inc.)

Visitor Statistics and Location

According to an announcement by Sivas Kültür A.Ş., the museum welcomed over 25,000 visitors within its first six months of operation. Located in the center of Sivas, the museum is part of the city’s museum zone alongside other historical structures such as the Atatürk Kongre Müzesi, Arkeoloji Müzesi, and Gök Medrese.

Living Museum Characteristics

The Sivas Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi embodies the qualities of a living museum through its workshops, historical reenactments, course activities, and cultural exhibitions. It enables visitors to directly engage with cultural heritage through participatory activities. According to academic evaluations, the museum meets six of the eleven established criteria for living museums and thus qualifies as such a category.