Maria Antonietta Taticchi

MEET THE MAKER

I have been an artisan since 1986 and have had my own ceramic workshop since 1980. My training as a ceramist took place in Deruta in the workshop of a master craftsman that I attended regularly for 5 years. Graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts, I opened a workshop in the historic center of Perugia. From the very beginning I chose to have a production of quality rather than quantity and I wanted to give an original and innovative trait with respect to the Umbrian artistic tradition. I invested in the use of new technologies by creating a line of lamps with the use of the 3D printer. Since 2015 Caterina Aquinardi, my daughter, has decided to work in my laboratory creating new original objects and ceramic jewels thus guaranteeing the continuity of the activity.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE PART OF CRAFTING BUSINESS PROGRAMME?

Because I am convinced that there is always something to learn; you need to keep up to date, be willing to change. In order to give continuity and value to my artisan business, I believe it is important and necessary to invest in training. Mine is an activity always at risk of closure. I hope to have useful information in order to be able to help my daughter continue with job prospects.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEEDBACKS?

It was interesting and useful to participate, I received confirmation, food for thought, ideas. I appreciated both the preparation and competence of those who organized and coordinated and the availability of all the material presented.

The course has been an incentive to continue in research, training, promotion, collaboration with other artisans. From the beginning I have focused on the creation of unique products strongly characterized and linked to the territory intended for market niches. I have always considered it important to make use of new technologies for communication and promotion and also started a project in collaboration with an engineer to introduce the use of the 3D printer for the creation of a new series of objects. The ongoing challenge is to know how to seize the opportunities that arise to be able to move forward and to grow your business.

FIVE THINGS YOU’LL BRING WITH YOU FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

• How to build a statement of purpose
• Studying and researching the strategies to be adopted and the tools to be used to maintain a constant relationship with my clients, and to conquer new ones
• I better understood how important it is to maintain a spirit of close cooperation with my Japanese client who sells my ceramics all over Japan
• I would like to deepen the theme of the artisan gallery because it seems to me the way to restore dignity to artistic craftsmanship
• Fundamental is the network with the artisans of their own territory but also at national and European level