During the course of the project, three stakeholder working groups are set up, based on specific themes and craft contexts: crafts education, maker spaces, and finally, policy and entrepreneurship. Each of these working groups consists of members of our core partner team, but new partners will join as we go along. If you are interested to know more about the working groups goals, intentions or planned meetings, do not hesitate to contact us.
Education and transmission
Craftership is part of a diverse range of educational and training programs offered by Flemish university colleges, training providers, adult education (CVO, Syntra), and part-time arts education (DKO). Crafts typically sit uneasily in existing curricula and professional classifications system, which are based on mental and cultural frameworks in which traditional craftership is constrained to an outdated perception, as if it were opposed to technology, innovation, design and abstract thinking. This project will closely examine the current certification and qualification systems of crafts education in Flanders and develop tools and experiments for new learning formats as well as policy recommendations.
Maker Spaces
Secondly, the project will engage with maker spaces in different cities as an entry point to future-oriented craft ecosystems. Although various typologies exist, maker spaces share the characteristic of offering space, tools, equipment, and training formats for different types of craftspeople. They are viewed as important forums for transmitting crafts knowledge and learning to both makers and citizens, with a strong focus on practices that enhance circular production, open knowledge and the sharing of resources. Crafting Futures, in particular, will take a closer look at how they are positioned in regional networks and policy making, strengthening the evaluation and validation of their societal and economic impacts.
Policy and Entrepreneurship
In today’s economic context, craftspeople are often insufficiently aware or informed about how to develop sustainable business models that successfully incorporate high costs for labour, workspace, raw materials, tools, and equipment. Crafting Futures will engage in deeper research on specific tools (legal, business models, and IP) to support craftspeople. Secondly, given the sector’s fragmented and diverse nature, and its lack of structural resources and support, Crafting Futures will also develop more institutional recommendations (grants, support network) to enhance the position and resilience of the crafts sector in Flanders.
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