RIYADH: A total 71 artisans from various regions have been declared winners of this year’s “Souq Okaz handicraft award for innovation and creativity”.

The winners were announced on Monday by the National Handicraft Program (Bari), a flagship program of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH).

A Bari spokesman said the Top 10 in the winners’ list are Magbula Ayied Al Thebaiti, Ogabah Dakheel Allah, Abdullah Saleh Al-Salehi, Yosuf Yahiya Saeed Abu Laban, Munira Naif Al-Thebaiti, Zafaran Mohammad Saleem, Momena Eid Al-Khebairi, Fatema Mahi Al-Talahi, Ahmed Abdullah Al Al-Maliki and Bakheta Nassar Al Howaiti.

The works of the top winners will be displayed on national and international occasions, in which Bari participates, the official said.

The winners competed for the award in six different areas that include Al Sido, weaving, crochet work, embroidery, fashion apparel, painting, sculpture, wood products and other novel items.

Notably, an international and domestic arbitration committee comprising five members evaluated their works during live demonstrations within the Souq Okaz Avenue, and finally Prince Sultan bin Salman, SCTNH president and head of the supervising committee of Bari, approved the names of the winners.