Latvian Academy of Culture researchers have developed a report on the legal and policy frameworks of crafts in Europe
A research team from the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) has, within the framework of the international research project "Transforming crafts knowledge for a sustainable, inclusive and economically viable heritage in Europe" / Tracks4Crafts, prepared the report "Report on Legal and Policy Frameworks of Crafts in Europe: Approaches at the State Level", which analyses how crafts are supported, regulated and developed across different countries as part of cultural heritage and the creative economy.
The aim of the report is to provide an in-depth overview of how craft skills and knowledge in Europe are being protected, transmitted to future generations, and adapted to contemporary social, economic and cultural contexts. Particular attention is paid to the role of crafts in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, the development of creative industries, as well as questions relating to the professional status of artisans and the protection of intellectual property.
In the report, the researchers also address the diversity of craft definitions across Europe, various governance models and support instruments in the crafts sector, as well as issues concerning the professional status of artisans and the protection of their intellectual property. The overview offers valuable insights for cultural heritage policy-makers, cultural institutions, heritage professionals, legal experts, education specialists and craftspeople.
The research involved a comparative analysis of policy and legal documents in 30 European countries, a quantitative survey of cultural policy and UNESCO focal points, as well as interviews with policy and legal experts from Belgium, Greece, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland. Additionally, the periodic reports submitted under the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage were analysed, in which crafts are examined as one of the domains of intangible cultural heritage.
The research was conducted by a research team of LAC Institute of Arts and Cultural Studies: Anita Vaivade, Baiba Tjarve, Anda, Laķe, Ieva Zemīte, Līga Ābele, Lote Katrīna Cērpa and visiting researcher Vadims Mantrovs.
The report is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ikkSwtkmwVeXVO2Ex1DEMu5w38Yc-KhK/view?usp=drive_link
The annex to the report is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DSPBrfp-1zInoPz3YCRe21j8qhCTH5r6/view?usp=drive_link
Further information about the Tracks4Crafts project can be found at: https://tracks4crafts.eu/
The international project "Transforming Crafts Knowledge for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Economically Viable Heritage in Europe" (Tracks4Crafts) is funded by the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe (Grant Agreement No. 101094507). LAC is one of 15 international partners in the project.
Additional information:
Baiba Tjarve
baiba.tjarve@lka.edu.lv