Artex

Artex actively strengthens the craft sector by promoting Italian artistic know‑how and connecting artisans with international markets. Through its collaboration with platforms like Craftwork4All, Artex supports the visibility, digitalization, and commercial growth of craft enterprises. The platform’s focus on showcasing high‑quality handmade products aligns with Artex’s mission to foster innovation, and encourage sustainable creative economies. By facilitating networking, training, and market access, Artex helps artisans integrate into broader creative value chains while ensuring that traditional skills remain relevant by adapting to the new needs and be competitive in contemporary cultural and economic contexts.

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

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

Documenting and research on the craft sector

Artex’s past projects have generated long‑lasting results for the artistic and traditional craft sector, strengthening innovation, knowledge transfer, and international cooperation. Crafting Europe created a stable transnational network of artisans, designers, and digital creatives, along with training tools, digital resources, and a final publication that remains publicly accessible. (https://www.craftingeurope.com/)

Within Tracks4Crafts, Artex is developing replicable methodologies for transmitting Traditional Crafts Knowledge, producing workshops, seminars, and pilot activities—such as Ceramic Futures—that generate new training materials and strategies for the sector.

ELLIE is introducing immersive and sensory technologies to craft‑based design processes, leaving a legacy of experimental models for enhancing cultural heritage and supporting artisans in adopting digital tools.

Through BRICKS, Artex contributes to research on non‑formal craft education, producing surveys, comparative analyses, and policy recommendations to strengthen adult learning in traditional crafts.

Finally, Reskilling Crafts is creating inclusive training labs, a European alliance for craft reskilling, and a multilingual digital platform offering learning content, micro‑credentials, and skills‑monitoring tools.

Together, these initiatives position Artex as a key actor in European craft innovation, generating resources, networks, and knowledge that continue to support the sector’s evolution.

Info: https://www.artex.firenze.it/en/european-projects/

Associazione italiana Città della Ceramica
The association was founded in 1999 with the aim of protecting and promoting Italian artistic and artisan ceramics. Its members are Italian municipalities and Regions – more than 50 - with an ‘established ceramic tradition’, recognised by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy.

European Route of Ceramics
The European Route of Ceramics is a Council of Europe-certified Cultural route since 2012. It promotes the cultural heritage of ceramic production and its traditions, offering sustainable and competitive tourism beyond just artistic productions and collections, but also the cultural and social development of the destinations over time.

Coordinamento Tessitori
Network founded in 2002 that brings together people interested in sustainable textile arts, from the fiber to the final products. Over the years, it has grown to include more than 800 members.

Associazione Arte della Ceramica
The Association brings together ceramic artists, students, and enthusiasts to promote cultural initiatives that enhance knowledge and visibility of ceramic art through events, workshops, exhibitions, and thematic markets.

Confartigianato Imprese
Confartigianato Imprese is one of Italy’s largest business associations representing artisans, micro and small enterprises. It supports entrepreneurship and local development by providing advocacy, services, training, and innovation support, while promoting the value of craftsmanship and the competitiveness of Italian SMEs at national and European level.

CNA
CNA is a major Italian confederation representing artisans and small and medium-sized enterprises across all sectors. It works to protect business interests, foster innovation and sustainability and provide services, policy representation and capacity-building to support the growth and internationalisation of SMEs.

New European Bauhahus
The New European Bauhaus is an EU initiative that promotes a green transition through sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful living spaces, putting people, communities, and well‑being at the centre.

Reskilling Crafts Alliance
The Reskilling Crafts Alliance is a European network that connects artisans, educators, and organisations to help the craft sector adapt to the green and digital transition through inclusive training, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Pact for Skills
The Pact for Skills is an EU initiative that unites public and private organisations to jointly commit to upskilling and reskilling adults, supporting Europe’s green and digital transitions through collaboration and lifelong learning.

SKILLMAN
Skillman.eu is a European network that connects industry, education, and research to develop skills for advanced manufacturing, supporting innovative training, upskilling, and workforce competitiveness across Europe.