World’s first Rafugari museum to open in Babolsar
The Director General of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization of Mazandaran Province announced that a license has been issued for the establishment of the world’s first Rafugari (traditional mending) museum in Babolsar. The museum is scheduled to open in May 2026, coinciding with Cultural Heritage Week.
Hossein Izadi said the Babolsar Rafugari Museum has been established with the aim of safeguarding the authentic and ancient art of Rafugari, highlighting its place within Iran’s handicrafts, and transferring the knowledge and experience of master craftsmen to future generations. He noted that the museum will showcase tools, works, traditional techniques, and the historical evolution of this traditional art, according to IRNA.
He added that the launch of the museum will not only play an important role in preserving and promoting traditional arts, but can also develop into a center for education, research, and cultural tourism in the province, attracting art and cultural heritage enthusiasts from across the country.
Describing the creation of the world’s first specialized Rafugari museum as a valuable step toward protecting intangible cultural heritage and reviving traditional arts, Izadi said Rafugari is an integral part of Iranian cultural identity. He emphasized that the museum can further enhance Mazandaran’s cultural standing at both national and international levels.
Izadi also stated that the issuance of the museum’s operating license aligns with efforts to support specialized and thematic museums, adding that, in terms of content and function, the museum has the potential to become one of the country’s most distinctive and prominent museums.
Hamidreza Akbari, founder and director of the Babolsar Rafugari Museum, underscored the importance of establishing the museum, noting that Rafugari is not merely a technical skill but a component of Iranian cultural identity, indigenous knowledge, and lifestyle that has received less attention in recent years.
He added that the establishment of the world’s first specialized Rafugari museum is an effort to document, record, and pass on the experiences of master craftsmen to future generations, expressing hope that the museum will become a hub for education, research, and the attraction of cultural tourists.