Presentation of the report on the economic impact of the craft sector in Europe

Within the framework of the Crafting Europe project, the Arts & Culture Center of Georgia (GACC) organizes the international seminar on “Crafts in the local development agenda: current practices and future perspectives”, which will take place on Friday, October 14 from 13:00 to 16:15 hours (CEST). This meeting in English and in a hybrid format is part of the events developed during the 4th International Summit of Crafts and Design in Tbilisi, EthnoFest 2022, which takes place from October 14 to 16 in Georgia.

The seminar aims to encourage a dialogue on the ability of crafts to impact different areas, such as employment, social and gender equality, poverty reduction, education, etc. It will foster an understanding of the sector capacity within government agencies and development agencies and trigger successful cross-sector cooperation. Its objective is to reflect on the close links of crafts with local culture, and its creative and innovative nature and to define ways of applying these distinctive characteristics for the development of different types of localities, from rural villages to cities.

In collaboration with all the partners of the Crafting Europe project, Fundesarte has developed a report on the economic impact of the craft sector in Europe, the conclusions of which will be presented during the seminar. This report collects a series of data and information that will serve as a reference to make estimates for the whole of Europe and to know the scope of crafts in the European economic context and, therefore, establish policies that favour the survival and competitiveness of the craft sector. The complete program of the seminar can be downloaded here, and the seminar can be followed from the following link.

The GACC is the leading cultural organization in Georgia dedicated to preserving, developing and promoting Georgian culture. The EthnoFest is one of the largest events for craftsmen, designers, entrepreneurs, retailers, experts, business agents, buyers, and the public in the South Caucasus region. During the weekend there are exhibitions, conferences, seminars, competitions, workshops, etc. The summit offers a unique opportunity for local and international artisans to showcase their wares, get feedback from buyers and trade agents, network, find new customers, and gain access to local and international markets.