Thanks to an invitation from the Hephaestus project—part of the CRAFTOUR partnership—and its member BOFA, the CRAEFT team had the pleasure of participating in the Bornholm Symposium 2025. The event took place during Folkemødet, a renowned Danish democracy festival that fosters dialogue between citizens and decision-makers. During our time on the beautiful island of Bornholm, we had several opportunities to advocate for greater recognition and stronger support for the crafts sector.

Our participation began with an engaging exchange with PhD students on the value of crafts in shaping European identity and contributing to economic development. This was followed by a roundtable discussion involving a broader group of stakeholders. We were also honored to address the public and take part in a panel at one of the official Folkemødet events.

➤ The panel featured a diverse group of experts, each contributing unique insights based on their backgrounds:

Madina Benvenuti, Founder of Mad’in Europe, Coordinator of the CRAFTOUR Initiative, and partner of CRAEFT project, contributed networked insight into Europe’s living craft ecosystem and the transmission of know-how.

Ken Webster, Circular Economy Specialist (CISL, Cranfield University, ex-Ellen MacArthur Foundation), offered a visionary ideas and examples focused on circular economy, design, systems innovation, and value reconfiguration.

Birgitte Wederking, Director of the Greater Copenhagen EU Office, provided EU-facing insight into policy trends, funding logic, and regional representation.

Vishv Priya Kohli, Associate Professor at CBS and Principal Investigator of the HEPHAESTUS project, shared a research-based perspective on craft as a system of innovation and sustainability transformation.

Together, they brought perspectives from the fields of craft, economics, policy, safeguard and academic research. This diversity of the panel allowed for a rich and multifaceted discussion on the current position and future of the craft sector, while also highlighting key structural weaknesses and unmet needs.

Among the many important topics discussed, key attention was given to improving the transmission of craft skills at the European level and addressing the challenges posed by emerging trends in contemporary craft practices. A major concern was how many craft practitioners today tend to move away from their cultural roots, resulting in more globalised and homogenised products.

As Madina Benvenuti from Craeft highlighted:

The panel also raised critical concerns about the increasing number of standards and formal requirements that craftspeople must meet in order to transmit and teach their skills.

Madina Benvenuti highlighted that many experienced artisans are now required to purchase new tools because their traditional ones no longer meet modern safety standards. Furthermore, despite years or even decades of experience, these professionals often still need to obtain formal certifications to be allowed to teach or demonstrate their craft. These barriers create significant financial and administrative burdens and risk sidelining invaluable knowledge from being passed on to future generations.

Vishv Priya Kohli from Hephestus reinforced this point by stressing the need to adjust and simplify funding application procedures so that craft professionals can actually access the support available to them. She emphasised that insufficient digital or administrative literacy, lack of time, and overly complex processes represent real obstacles for many artisans seeking funding.

The discussion made it clear that if we are to secure the future of European crafts, we must not only recognise their cultural and economic value but also remove the structural, administrative barriers that prevent their sustainable transmission.

As a final and powerful reminder, Madina Benvenuti also highlighted the role we all play as consumers:

The statement echoed throughout the event, reminding everyone that sustainable change begins with awareness and with each single one of us.

More about CRAFTOUR

Postcard from Bornholm.

Join the online CRAEFT COMMUNITY!

The CRAEFT online community was launched a few months ago to give a voice to all stakeholders interested in contributing to a deeper understanding, safeguarding, development, and transmission of crafts. Every voice matters—yours included.

We invite you to join us in these open discussions and help shape the future of crafts.

Here are some highlights from recent exchanges:

Comment by David on Geographical Indications (GIs) - “In addition to objects, do you think it would be valuable to include training, whether formal or informal, as part of the GI?” Training, after all, is an integral part of the creation, transmission, and promotion of a craft. It shapes not only the quality of the product but also the sustainability of the tradition itself. ADD YOUR COMMENTS HERE
Topic by Danae on tansmission : Crafts Board Game is an educational tabletop game where players become artisans, using resource management, dice rolls, and tool upgrades to craft traditional objects from materials like wood, clay, and marble... ADD YOUR COMMENTS HERE