The Wooden Artifacts Museum is located in the historic Odunpazarı district of Eskişehir, Türkiye, and operates in the caravanserai building west of the Kurşunlu Külliyesi. The museum serves as both an art gallery and a cultural exhibition space, offering visitors a rich selection of examples of wooden art.
Wooden Artifacts Museum (Odunpazarı Municipality)
Establishment and History
The museum traces its roots back to the third International Woodworking Festival held in Eskişehir in 2015. After the festival, the works produced by the participating artists were brought together and the Wooden Works Museum was established by the Odunpazarı Municipality in 2016. The museum exhibited its works at Ceramic Park in its first year and moved to its current location in the caravanserai building of the Kurşunlu Complex in 2017.
International Woodworking Festival
The International Woodworking Festival was first held in Tanzania in 2013, then in China in 2014, and thirdly in Eskişehir in 2015 as part of World Tree Day events. The festival was organised under the slogan ‘Wood is Good – Ağaç Güzeldir’ in collaboration with the Eskişehir Odunpazarı Municipality, the International Wood Culture Society (IWCS) and the Turkish Foresters Association (TOD). The works at the festival were inspired by Yunus Emre's idea that ‘This world belongs to no one.’
Events and Objectives
The festival and museum events aim to promote wood art and raise awareness of nature. In addition to exhibiting the works, the programme includes workshops, walks, folk dances, dance performances and concerts. While the artists continue their work in the workshops set up in Odunpazarı, visitors can watch the artists shaping the trees live. These events aim to encourage the use of wood and instil environmental awareness in future generations.
Reforestation and Environmental Contribution
The environmental aspect of the festival is also important. Thanks to the reforestation and forest creation efforts carried out after each festival, approximately 450,000 square metres of forest have been added to Odunpazarı in five years. These practices add value to the region both aesthetically and ecologically.
Collection and Exhibited Works
The museum operates in an area of approximately 300 square metres and houses nearly 235 works produced by 300 artists and scientists from 68 different countries. Each work of art has a plaque indicating the name of the artist and the country they belong to. The collection includes works produced during the International Wood Festival held in 2015 and the International Wood Sculpture Festivals held between 2016 and 2019, reflecting the international diversity of wood art.
Tourism and Cultural Value
The Wooden Art Museum stands out as an important cultural attraction for local and foreign tourists visiting Odunpazarı. The museum plays an important role in both offering visitors an artistic experience and promoting Eskişehir's cultural heritage and art events.
