research proposals: rare and endangered crafts across europe

Crafts represent a beautiful combination of cultural heritage, technical knowledge, creativity, and local identity. Across Europe, however, many traditional skills are facing serious challenges due to an ageing workforce, shifting markets, and a lack of educational pathways.

Building directly on our ongoing mission to overcome critical data gaps, this new research will join our existing library of seven milestone sectorial studies. Together, this growing body of data helps us deeply understand the sector’s vulnerabilities, build collective resilience, and strengthen our advocacy for European crafts. We are looking for an expert consultant or research entity to undertake a comprehensive European study on rare and endangered crafts.

The goal is to provide actionable evidence on the current state of vulnerable crafts and propose strategies to safeguard them for future generations. The selected research partner will focus on the following key areas:

• Analysis and Mapping: Evaluating the current landscape and mapping endangered crafts alongside existing support structures.

• Data Collection: Gathering qualitative and quantitative insights from craftspeople, educators, and policymakers across Europe.

• Identifying Best Practices: Highlighting successful initiatives that preserve, transmit, and revitalise craft skills.

• Policy Formulation: Creating clear, actionable recommendations for regional, national, and European authorities.