Manifesto for a European strategy for craft
World Crafts Council Europe, its members and partners are the voice of millions of craft professionals, studios and manufacturers across Europe. Craft is rich in its diversity representing hundreds of specialised trades. Textile, fashion, ceramics, glass, metal, jewellery and woodworking are well known, but there are many more that are unique and distinctly linked to heritage, territory, culture and tradition.
To mark its 40th anniversary, World Crafts Council Europe undertook a survey of its members to ascertain challenges facing the crafts sector. The results of the survey provide the basis for the development of this ‘Crafting Europe Manifesto and Action Plan’, presented on the occasion of Révélations at the Grand Palais, Paris on May 23rd, 2019.
We call upon everyone to support the Crafting Europe Manifesto and to work together on this six-point action plan to ensure the survival and development of craft for future generations.
ACTION PLAN
1. ENSURE REPRESENTATION OF THE CRAFT SECTOR IN ALL ITS DIMENSIONS THROUGH EUROPEAN SUPPORT PROGRAMMES. Ensure that the terms ‘artisan, craftworker, craft artist, maker and manufacturer’ are equally represented as part of the artistic and creative industries in the next European programme 2021 – 2027. Ensure equity of access to European public funds for craft professionals and their institutions.
2. SUPPORT MEASURES THAT HELP TO BOOST ENTERPRISE AND ACCESS TO MARKETS FOR CRAFT BUSINESSES. Ensure that regulations are appropriate to the scale of craft businesses and increase access to professional development supports for craft professionals.
3. ADDRESS THE DECLINE IN TRAINING PROVISION AND TRANSMISSION OF SKILLS. Work with European craft institutions to develop specific training supports that include new models of transmission between master craftspeople and students.
4. UNDERTAKE RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY THE ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL VALUE OF CRAFT TO EUROPE. Work with European partners to develop a framework to measure the economic, educational, cultural and social value of craft to European society. Increase the provision of geographic indicators and protections for crafts at risk.
5. PROMOTE THE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF THE CRAFT SECTOR THROUGH LEGISLATION. Work at European and National levels to develop legislation to recognise, protect and provide for the future of the European craft sector.
6. HOST A EUROPEAN YEAR OF CRAFT. Develop proposals to host a ‘European Year of Craft’ during the 2021- 2027 EU programme to raise awareness and visibility of the sector amongst European policy makers, institutions and the public.