Partners:
The Crafting Futures project originates from the University of Antwerp and KU Leuven, in collaboration with HOGENT, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Sint Lucas School of Arts, Antwerp. Its partners include educational institutions such as Syntra and CVO Ghent, local and regional governments such as the City of Antwerp, Bruges, Leuven, Genk, and Ghent, along with the Flemish Community. The project also collaborates with local designers, makers and maker spaces.

Objective:
The main goal of the project is to rethink the value of crafts in society by analyzing and revising the current methods of evaluating and validating crafts knowledge. The project aims to foster new tools for transmission, recognition, and validation of craft skills and knowledge in educational and maker spaces, while also developing new business, legal, and policy instruments to support the craft sector.

Methodology:
The project utilizes a combination of scientific and practice-based research, using Actor-Network Theory, Convention Theory, and Controversy Mapping for critical analysis. The research is embedded in practice-based workshops, documentation of results, participant observation, and reiteration of activities in various environments. The action-based approach promotes collaboration with partners to prototype new models and develop practical solutions for craft validation and valuation.

Key outcomes include:
Development of new learning formats, classification systems, and business models to enhance the sustainability and profitability of crafts.
Creation of tools for the assessment, validation, and certification of crafts knowledge, improving access to labor and product markets.
Policy recommendations and legal instruments to support crafts within educational institutions, maker spaces, and urban policy contexts.

Impact:
Crafting Futures matters because it provides innovative solutions for revaluing crafts in society. By bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary challenges, it promotes a sustainable, inclusive, and circular economy. The project will help craftspeople gain recognition for their skills, contribute to social inclusion, and support the craft sector's role in urban transformation and economic development. It will also create a stronger institutional and legal framework for crafts, ensuring better representation and advocacy.

#Innovation
#Crafts
#Education
#Collaboration
#MakerSpaces
#CreativeIndustries
#CulturalHeritage
#BusinessModels
#UrbanTransformation
#CrossSectoralExchange
#Fashion
#CircularEconomy
#SocialInclusion
#LifelongLearning
#CommunityBuilding