creative exchange for craft practitioners

The Creative Exchange Residency for Craft Practitioners aims to foster a collaborative and open learning environment, encouraging craft practitioners to apply their unique skills and perspectives. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful exchanges, contributing to the rich tapestry of European craft knowledge and practice.

Whether you’re based in different countries or various regions within the same country, you can take part in this knowledge exchange. The roll-out call spans until March 2025, and the residency can take place until 15 April 2025, providing an extended application window and more opportunities for craft practitioners.

Each selected participant will receive a stipend of 400€ to facilitate their involvement. This stipend is intended to cover basic travel expenses and contribute to accommodation costs. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to proactively seek additional financial support by applying for an EU mobility grant or other applicable grants if they anticipate further funding needs.

Application categories are as follows:

Pair Exchange: A traditional two-week knowledge exchange and residency either all 14 days in-situ or a minimum of 7 days in-situ and the rest up to the 2 weeks online.

Established pairs of craft practitioners are encouraged to apply together. This category also has the flexibility to choose between 14 days face-to-face or a hybrid format with 7 days in person and the rest online (equivalent to 15 hours per week). Participants in this category should apply individually and add the name of the partner in the corresponding section and visit each other in their studios. Both persons in the pair are entitled to the full stipend. If you don’t have a partner, a dedicated closed Facebook group will be provided, monitored by the ECA team, allowing you to explore potential exchange partners.

Workshop Attendance: Craft practitioners interested in attending already established workshops that last at least 7 days.

Participants in this category can apply and be eligible for a stipend if the established workshop has a minimum duration of 7 days in situ . For the remaining time applicants should propose a supplementary program to cover the remaining days (equivalent of 15 hours week). This could involve exploring local craftspeople and their workshops, local heritage, and unique materials in the region.

Group Exchange: Craft practitioners forming a group for a collective exchange either all 14 days in-situ or at least 7 days in-situ and the rest online.

Craft practitioners, 3 or up to 20, can form a group and apply together. This category also has the flexibility to choose between 14 days face-to-face or a hybrid format with at least 7 days in person and the rest up to 2 weeks online (equivalent to 15 hours per week). The group can create its own knowledge exchange in one place (e.g., one of the members of the group’s studio) based on craft discipline or the use of materials in different craft disciplines. All members of the group are individually eligible for the stipend.