CRAFTOUR: SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE IN ANTWERP (in-person)

The CRAFTOUR Scientific Conference in Antwerp will bring together researchers, educators, craftspeople, and policy experts for a full day of knowledge exchange on the future of craft in Europe. Hosted at the historic Hof van Liere of the University of Antwerp, the conference will provide a space to debate, analyse, and reimagine the role of craft across disciplines, economies, and societies.

Through a keynote, three roundtables, and moderated discussions, participants will explore the core transformations shaping the craft ecosystem today:

Histories of value(s) & governance : How and by whom definitions of “craft” are constructed, negotiated, and mobilised; how authenticity, cultural value, and policy frameworks shape the governance of craft in Europe.

Digital imaginaries & crafts in transition : How digital technologies, including AI, documentation tools, and new training environments, influence craft practices, learning processes, identity, and cultural transmission.

Organisational transformation & resilience : Addressing the full crafts ecosystem, from transmission, sustainability, and ecological practices to innovative business models and positioning a holistic perspective on crafts as the only pathway to resilient craft ecosystems, supported by a detailed identification of existing barriers.

The day will conclude with a reflection synthesising insights from all sessions, preparing key messages to be carried forward to Brussels, the following day, for further dissemination and debate.

Full agenda

More about the CRAFTOUR

Attending online, please register here