Museum of the Industrial School

Sivas Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi is a cultural heritage institution distinguished by its layered history spanning from the Ottoman era to the present, operating under a “living museum” approach. Constructed in 1902, the building served various functions including 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 is dedicated to preserving and promoting both the historical identity of the building and the traditional crafts unique to Sivas.

^{Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi} (T.C. Sivas Valiliği)

The building was constructed in 1902 during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II by Sivas Governor Reşit Akif Paşa 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 through a four-year residential education program.

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 under the name 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} (T.C. Sivas İl Özel İdaresi)

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

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

• Industrial School Room: Recreates the early educational activities of the building.
• Prison Room: Depicts the women’s dormitory during its time as a prison.
• Ethnography Section: Displays artifacts and traditional objects representative of Sivas culture.

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

^{Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi- Sanayi Mektebi Odası} (T.C. Sivas Valiliği)

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

• Carpet and kilim weaving
• Knife making
• Comb making
• Copper engraving
• 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 status to continue their profession.

^{Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi- Bakır İşlemeciliği Kursu} (TRT Haber)

Adjacent to the museum, a craftsmen’s bazaar has been constructed under the patronage of the Sivas Governorship. The aim is to bring 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.

^{Zanaatkarlar Çarşısı} (Sivas Kültür A.Ş.)

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, the Archaeology Museum, and the Gök Medrese.

Sivas Sanayi Mektebi Müzesi embodies the qualities of a living museum through its workshops, reconstructed environments, training courses, and cultural exhibitions. It enables visitors to actively participate in cultural heritage experiences. According to academic evaluations, the museum meets six out of eleven established criteria for living museums, qualifying it as a representative example of this category.