4. The Language of Craft: One Word, 19 Countries

Käsitöö. Artesanía. Rzemiosło. Kunsthåndverk. Rokodelstvo

How do you say "craft" in your language? How do you say “craft” across Europe? What does that word actually mean to the people who live there?

In this documentary episode of Craft Matters, we travel from Scotland to Georgia, and Sweden to Malta, bringing together over twenty voices to answer that question.

Listen in as we build a sonic mosaic across the continent. Adriana  explores how different countries view their craftspeople, the shared struggles of keeping traditional knowledge alive, and the beautiful, unspoken language of working with hands that unites every craftsperson, no matter where they live.

Hear  this special  European choir!

Featuring voices from: CEARTE (Portugal), UL’UV (Slovakia), ARTEX (Italy), Consorci de Comerç, Artesania i Moda de Catalunya (Spain), Malta Crafts Foundation, Norwegian Crafts, Danish Crafts & Design Association, Craft Scotland, Consortium of Craft Centres of Slovenia, Michelangelo Foundation, Mad’in Europe (Belgium), The Swedish Crafts Centre (KHVC), Georgian Arts and Culture Centre, Cyprus Handicraft Service, Bundesverband Kunsthandwerk Deutschland (Germany), Crafts Council Nederland, Stowarzyszenie Nów. Nowe Rzemiosło (Poland), Fundación EOI – Fundesarte (Spain), Hungarian Heritage House (Hungary), ACAB (Denmark), and the L’Institut pour les Savoir-Faire Français.

New to Craft Matters? Listen to Episode 1 to understand the policies shaping the sector, and subscribe so you don't miss Episode 5!

More about the European Crafts Alliance: europeancraftsalliance.org

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Credits

Host and producer: Adriana Campo

Continuity announcer: Rachel Kelly

Sound editor: Johan Chandorkar, Umamiproduktion

Story editor and dramaturg: Ana Kuntarič Brodersen

Executive producer: Laura Miguel Baumann

Produced by the European Crafts Alliance

Music: The Walking Song by Adam Ben Ezra (album: Hide & Seek)

Disclaimer

Co-funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. 

Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the European Crafts Alliance.

About the European Crafts Alliance

The European Crafts Alliance is an independent non-profit network representing over 40 member organisations across 25 European countries. It works to strengthen and support the crafts sector across Europe.

The podcast

Craft Matters is a podcast by the European Crafts Alliance exploring the people, policies, and practices shaping craft across Europe — from independent makers to cultural institutions and decision-makers. Through interviews, stories, and field recordings, the series reveals how craft lives, evolves, and contributes to Europe’s economic and cultural future.