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.
Attending online, please register here
