Crafts for the future

Crafts are under pressure in our fast-paced world where, for years, growth has been the mantra that dictated almost every move in our economies. But crafts are still a factor to be reckoned with in the labour market of many ETF partner countries, while in the post-industrial world crafts are increasingly recognised as a valuable part of the great sustainability puzzle.  

So now we are in a situation where the modern world could use a little help from crafts and crafts could use a little help from the modern world. This crossroads of mutual benefit has been the laboratory of a group of ETF experts who, together with colleagues from other organisations, looked at the future of crafts in post-industrial societies.   

One of the ETF experts who contributed to this work and to the publication Crafting the future is Floriana Folisi. Before launching a versatile career that eventually led her towards the ETF, Folisi studied political sciences and international relations.  

"I studied in Turin, was an exchange student at Michigan State University for a year, and then did my master’s degree in Brussels after I started to work there. I have always been interested in international affairs and especially EU policies."

Her career path began in the realms of EU relations and employment policies. Then, after four years at an EU cross-sector employer organisation, it gradually honed in on the areas that resonates most with her: education and work-based learning. In that sense, the move from Brussels to the ETF in Turin was much more than a physical homecoming. 

"I did really like both the thematic and the geographic mandate of the ETF and the fact that I would get to work in an operational department –where things are implemented. I quite generally like the fact that, with agencies, you mainly tap into fieldwork. In Brussels you tend to be working more at a policy level."

"Don’t get me wrong, at the ETF we also provide policy advice to authorities, but in doing so we cover the entire ecosystem of vocational education and training. We also work with employers and trade unions, school networks, school directors and teachers, and civil society organisations representing students, parents, training centres, and so forth."

Central to Folisi's views on skills for crafts is the concept of what in her native Italian she calls the "bottega" – the workshop floor – which symbolises the essence of hands-on learning and the transfer of knowledge from seasoned artisans to the next generation. In crafts, the bottega becomes the cornerstone of vocational training, fostering an environment where practical skills and creativity flourish. 

“But don’t underestimate the reciprocity of work-based learning,” she says. “The young generation can and will also bring in things that are useful for the person who has spent his entire life in the bottega. This itself can go some way towards alleviating the need for continuing training for masters in crafts.”  

The ETF work in crafts built on a series of meetings with crafts people who were asked about the outlook of their trades. Folisi recalls that a number of these were almost existentialist in nature. 

“Our first question was always: 'Will your craft still exist in 2050?' I mean, you see the emergence of artificial intelligence and the broader digital transition as a whole and it could make you wonder, but the outlook was always positive. Yes, there is going to be a twin digital and green transition and it will have a strong impact, but it may even increase the demand for things that are perceived as real and things that are made out of materials that are locally sourced and sustainable, or even recycled.”  

As such, the potential of crafts, according to the publication, lies not just in their ability to preserve cultural heritage but also in their capacity to adapt to and thrive within the digital and green transitions in the throes of which the world is today. The craft sector should open up to technological advancements and sustainable practices, thereby ensuring its ongoing relevance and appeal to younger generations. But crafts people need help with this. 

“One of the things that came out was that crafts people feel they need help to remain visible, which is becoming more and more difficult.”  

Here, we are not just talking about the visibility of the products of crafts people, but also of the crafts themselves. Knowledge of crafts is drowning in information overflow and creative arts have been pushed out of the school curricula of many countries, in spite of their proven benefits for creative thinking and problem solving and indeed more generally for alleviating the immense stress that our young people seem to constantly be under today. 

The crafts sector also needs some financial support and suggestions from interviewees here were quite creative. These trades are too proud to just be holding up their hands. 

“Some suggested a basic income during a start-up period, others tax incentives, because the learning curve is steep and it takes time to get established.” 

“And then there is education, which is crucial for establishing yourself in the sector. In crafts, work-based learning is essential, but it is not as straightforward as it can be elsewhere. One of the biggest problems is quite simply that the master is not always keen to teach an apprentice his crafts because they will be in direct competition with each other afterwards.” 

The report offers concrete recommendations for integrating crafts into broader economic and educational strategies. Echoing its findings, Folisi advocates for a multifaceted approach to rejuvenate the craft sector. This includes creating ecosystems that support crafts, promoting sustainability, leveraging technology, and focusing on education and skills development.  

Closing on a final note of advocacy for work-based learning, she again champions the bottega as a vital learning environment that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application.  

“The approach not only enhances skill acquisition but also instils a deeper understanding and appreciation of craftsmanship. Work-based learning, whether in crafts or not, is essential for preparing a workforce that is adaptable, skilled, and ready to meet the challenges of the future.” 

Both Folisi's insights and the strategic vision presented in the report underscore the critical role of crafts and vocational education in shaping a sustainable, culturally rich, and innovative future. If we work together to promote valuing traditional skills and integrating them with contemporary needs, we can support the craft sector while at the same time taking its benefits to a far greater audience. 

Background information

The report Crafting the future: Five Squared (5²) was produced by the ETF in close cooperation with the Michelangelo Foundation, the Union for the Mediterranean, UNESCO and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). Its title refers to 5 priorities for action around which 25 recommendations are grouped.  

The report offers a comprehensive overview of the craft sector's current state, key drivers of change, emerging skills needs, and a vision for the future. It highlights the importance of crafts in preserving cultural heritage, supporting local economies, and contributing to sustainable development. The report identifies cultural identity, tourism, globalisation, education, technological innovation and environmental changes as significant factors influencing the craft sector.

It proposes a multi-faceted approach for the future, emphasising the need for an ecosystem that supports crafts, balances local and global dynamics, promotes sustainability and circular economy, leverages technology, and focuses on education and skills development. This vision aims to revalue crafts, making them appreciated and celebrated globally while ensuring craftspeople have the skills and resources to thrive.