7. Crafting Through Crisis

What does it take to continue a craft practice when the conditions around it keep changing? In this episode of Craft Matters, Adriana Campo speaks with Olha Truten, Ukrainian Makers Association, about the findings of Ukrainian Crafts in Times of Crisis: Situation Analysis and Policy Proposals, a new study commissioned by the European Crafts Alliance and developed by the Ukrainian Makers Association in partnership with MZ Hub Research. The study looks at three different groups: craftspeople who remained in their communities, those displaced within Ukraine, and those who relocated abroad. Their circumstances are not the same. Some work around disruptions to electricity, damaged workshops and uncertain access to materials. Others have had to rebuild their practice, customer base and professional networks somewhere new. Relocation brings its own difficulties. A craftsperson may carry their skills with them, but not necessarily the market knowledge, reputation, customers or business infrastructure that previously sustained their work. For many, starting again means learning a new language, regulatory system and market from the beginning. The conversation also looks beyond business. Craft can provide structure, focus and a sense of agency during periods of profound uncertainty, while workshops and collective making can create spaces for community support and veteran reintegration. At the centre of the episode is a difficult reality: adaptation is no longer a short-term response. For many craftspeople, it has become part of everyday working life. The episode concludes with the study’s policy recommendations and its Resilience Toolkit, a practical resource covering areas including education, financial support, business organisation, domestic and international markets, working abroad and continuing craft activity during full-scale war. Guest in this episode: Olha Truten, Ukrainian Makers Association The full study and Resilience Toolkit are available through the European Crafts Alliance website. New to Craft Matters? Listen to Episode 1 to understand the policies shaping the sector, and subscribe so you don't miss Episode 8. More about the European Crafts Alliance: europeancraftsalliance.org Follow us on LinkedIn│Instagram│Facebook│YouTube Credits Host and producer: Adriana Campo Continuity announcer: Rachel Kelly Story editor, scriptwriter and dramaturg: Ana Kuntarič Brodersen Executive producer: Laura Miguel Baumann Produced by the European Crafts Alliance Music: The Walking Song by Adam Ben Ezra, from the 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 craftspeople to cultural institutions and decision-makers. Through interviews, stories and field recordings, the series looks at how craft lives, evolves and contributes to Europe’s economic and cultural future.