Crafting Europe
Crafts Council
Cooperation Projects
England
2019
Total project grant (euros)
914,320
Sub-programme
Culture
Funding scheme
Creative Europe
Call number
EACEA 34/2018
Location
London
Number of partners in project
9
Lead organisation
Crafts Council Of Ireland Limited, Ireland
Partners
Artex s.cons.r.l, Italy
Centro De Formacao Profissional Para O Artesanato E Patrimonio, Portugal
Crafts Council Nederland, Netherlands
Fundación Escuela De Organización Industrial, Spain
Georgian Arts and Culture Center (Foundation), Georgia
Handicraft Chamber of Ukraine, Ukraine
Limerick Institute Of Technology, Ireland
The project starts from the need to build capacity within the crafts sector across Europe. The core focus aims to address systemic challenges identified through findings from surveys undertaken to assess the needs of the crafts sector across 17 European Countries. Findings highlight four core systemic challenges for the sector as follows:
- Value: Detailed analysis and research into the cultural impact and economic value of the craft sector within Europe has not been undertaken. This leads to a knowledge, value and awareness gap both within the sector itself and at local, regional, national and European level.
- Identity, Definition and Visibility: A key issue is the need for a common, and strengthened, identity and definition within the craft sector in order to disseminate a clear and cohesive understanding of European Craft that will increase visibility and awareness across cultural and creative communities, to the wider public and within public and legislative bodies.
- Education and Training: Attracting and engaging future generations of skilled craft practitioners is a significant challenge as is the preservation of key craft skills (transmission of knowledge) and the adoption and use of new technologies.
- Infrastructure and Support: There is a clear need for improved access to support and infrastructure including finance, training in professional practice and commercialisation as well as opportunities to exhibit and trade craft products across multiple channels.





