Bayburt is a small town that is unfamiliar even to most Turks, due in large part to its remote location in the northeast region of the country. Yet with his hard work and vision in establishing the Baksı Museum, artist and academic Hüsamettin Koçan, is slowly changing this. Originally from Bayburt but now based in Istanbul, Koçan noticed that the tradition of producing handicrafts, such as pottery and ceramics, was quickly dying out in his village. Due to the severity of the weather, most of the villagers are forced to migrate in order to find employment opportunities, with many never returning and taking their skill-sets with them.

As a result, the knowledge behind the production of handicrafts is beıng lost and forgotten. Alarmed by this situation, Mr. Koçan decided to establish the Baksı Museum to revitalize the local economy while also preserving the tradition of local handicrafts. This museum successfully brings together contemporary and traditional arts, and has six sections including an exhibition hall (where folk art motifs, glass, ceramics, and pottery are presented), the Bayburt House, which displays traditional Bayburt architecture, a workshop where villagers weave and make ceramics, and a library. Recognizing his tremendous economic and cultural contribution to the region, Mr. Kocan has been honored with the Turkey’s Changemakers award by the Sabancı Foundation.

www.baksi.org