OECON GROUP

Our activities strongly connect with the artistic and craft sector through projects promoting cultural industries, creative expression, and inclusion. Since 2017, OECON Group has supported creators in developing entrepreneurial mindsets and launched initiatives such as PAL ART, Craftwork4All, OUR STAGE, and E-ART, which integrate crafts, theatre, and visual arts into education and social inclusion. We use art and crafts as tools for empowerment, mobility, and skills development for vulnerable groups, including women, migrants, and minorities. Our work combines vocational training, innovative curricula, and STEAM programs to strengthen the craft sector’s sustainability and foster creativity-driven entrepreneurship.

Ceramic handicrafts, Glass craftmanship, Fibre and textile handicrafts, Leather processing, Wood craftmanship, Paper crafts (e.g. origami)

Funding, Promoting/Showcasing, Training/Educating, Collaborating, Mentoring

Beyond our core activities in vocational education, entrepreneurship, and cultural industries, OECON Group engages in a wide range of initiatives fostering innovation and social impact. We design and implement blended learning programs, STEAM curricula, and digitalization strategies for SMEs and individuals. Our work includes sustainability projects such as GreenComp Enterprises and HOSP-ECO, promoting green business models and ethical enterprises. We actively support gender equality, minority integration, and employability through mentoring, coaching, and advanced tools like ICT and gamification. Additionally, we develop platforms for art, culture, and creativity, using theatre, crafts, and visual arts to empower vulnerable groups and enhance social inclusion. Our expertise extends to European and national funding programs, having prepared over 300 successful subsidies. We also lead initiatives in globalization, helping SMEs expand internationally, and in alternative financing for startups. Through social innovation and entrepreneurship, we create pathways for disadvantaged communities to participate in economic and cultural life. These diverse activities reflect our commitment to sustainable development, lifelong learning, and inclusive growth across sectors.

OECON Group has delivered impactful projects across cultural, educational, and sustainability domains. In the craft and creative sector, initiatives like Craftwork4All and PAL ART developed innovative curricula and digital platforms for artisans, fostering entrepreneurship and cross-border collaboration. The E-ART project promoted sustainability through artistic co-creation, while OUR STAGE empowered Romani youth via theatre-based social skills training. In sustainability, projects such as GreenComp Enterprises and HOSP-ECO created toolkits and training modules for green business models and ethical hospitality practices. STEM-focused projects like Robotics 4.0 All and Going the Distance produced blended learning resources and capacity-building programs for educators. These projects have generated open-access educational materials, e-learning platforms, and practical guides for SMEs and disadvantaged groups. Our legacy includes over 300 successfully implemented EU-funded initiatives, strengthening employability, inclusion, and innovation. Outputs such as digital tools, training curricula, and best-practice handbooks remain accessible to stakeholders, ensuring long-term impact and scalability.

OECON Group is an active member and contributor to several European creative and cultural networks. We participate in platforms such as the European Emerging Craft Platform (Craftwork 4.0 All) and Theatre in Palm under Creative Europe, which fosters collaboration among artisans and creative professionals. Additionally, we are involved in theatre and art networks through projects like OUR STAGE and Theatre in Palm, promoting artistic exchange and resilience. Our engagement extends to Erasmus+ partnerships focused on cultural industries and inclusion through art, as well as collaborations with organizations like MateraHub (Italy), INTERCULT (Sweden), and Turku University of Applied Sciences (Finland). These networks strengthen our role in supporting crafts, creativity, and cultural innovation across Europe.