“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
In an increasingly fast-paced and uncertain world, traditional crafts are proving to be more than forms of creative expression. They are powerful tools for health, wellbeing, resilience and reconnection. The European Council Work Plan for Culture (2023 to 2026) highlighted the importance of crafts and participatory cultural practices in addressing mental health, social inclusion and sustainable development.
Although cultural connections remain strong, many people still face barriers to participation. Health-related challenges, including mental health, often prevent individuals from fully engaging in cultural life.
We take a closer look at artisans’ personal experiences with the quiet power of crafts. We explore how moments of disruption can lead to new creative paths, and how learning practical, hands-on techniques can bring calm, focus and a renewed sense of purpose.
The simple act of making something by hand is more powerful than ever.
Julia Desch is a fibre artisan and designer-maker rooted in a family tradition of creativity, craftsmanship and care. Now 82, her lifelong love of wool and natural textiles is at the heart of everything she creates, from hand-dyed woollen wall hangings to sensory wheels and garments made with her own Wensleydale fleece.
She often recalls vivid memories from her early years, when even amid the trauma of war, sewing and knitting offered moments of calm.
“Something sane in an insane world,” they would say. Sailors who had learned to mend uniforms, found a lifeline in making, a lesson that left a deep and lasting imprint on her.
For Julia, making is more than artistic expression; it is comfort, connection and a quiet form of resilience.
Lorna McCormack is the founder and director of Wool in School, an educational initiative bringing wool into classrooms. Combining her background in fibre arts and education, she creates mindful, hands-on learning experiences that nurture mental health and heritage.
“Creativity shouldn’t be optional. We need to ensure it’s passed down. We’re transferring our knowledge – and giving children the tools to express themselves, think critically, and support their wellbeing.”
From schools to care homes, they use wool to calm, engage and teach. The message is simple: making things matters. It connects us to the land, to our past, and to each other.
For artisan Anusch Bayern, glass is more than a material, it is a living, breathing collaborator that captures light, memory, and transformation.
Working between Italy and Belgium, she blends traditional techniques with intuition and presence, turning molten glass into soulful jewelry and sculptures.
Through her craft, Anusch finds healing, mindfulness, and a profound connection to the moment.
From the community
Caroline Cole, a self-taught ceramicist, approaches her practice as a deeply personal path toward balance and presence. Through symmetry, pattern, and tactile exploration, she investigates how primal elements can quietly resonate with the human spirit.
In contrast to today’s fast-paced, image-driven world, her work offers stillness and focus. Making, for her, is restorative.
“When I am making, harmony, and the beauty that it enables are driving forces. They are not always achieved but when a piece is imperceptibly balanced it gives me a deep sense of achievement and pleasure.”
Her ceramics are an invitation to reconnect; with material, with ourselves, and with the emotional power of form.
Knitting pattern designer Máirín Ní Dhonncha has seen firsthand how powerful craft can be for wellbeing, especially in the hands of children.
In her knitting classes, the experience goes far beyond mastering skills or completing projects.
Children find calm focus, savor moments of quiet achievement, and develop a shared sense of belonging simply by creating side by side. For some, it’s the joy of being together without pressure to perform or talk. For others, it’s the confidence boost that comes with realising, “I didn’t think I could do that.”
Máirín describes the classroom as a kind of “third space”, neither home nor school, where creativity and self-expression naturally support mental health. And sometimes, all it takes is a bit of yarn and a pattern to get there.
Manuel Persa is an experimental artisan and designer who explores the intersection of craft, nature and mental wellbeing. Working from his studio ARBIO in the Redes Natural Park, he creates sustainable materials from organic waste, embracing slowness, care and attention as key parts of the process. For Manuel, making is not just a way to create, it’s a way to reconnect with the world, with others, and with himself.
“For me, creating is a way of caring. Caring for what’s inside and also for what surrounds me. And I believe that this, in itself, is already a form of health.”
Mahina Huot didn’t plan to change her life through craft, but that’s exactly what happened.
From her workshop Stampfel Fabrik in Alsace, she creates bespoke marking tools that blend technical precision with a deeply human touch.
Her journey began with the rediscovery of a vintage stamping press from a wartime print shop, and a growing need to reconnect with something meaningful, tactile, and real.
“Façonner de ses mains pour se reconstruire de l’intérieur” , shaping with the hands to rebuild from within. The act of stamping, repeated with intention, becomes a kind of living meditation, grounding body and mind through rhythm and material.
From ink and gesture, Mahina carved out a life of balance, and invites others to do the same.
Learn more about Mahina’s journey and her approach to craft.
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Resource Corner
Discover heritage skills through play, the Crafts board game invites kids to slow down, think with their hands, and learn traditional making in a fun, creative way.
The Study on cross-cutting prioritoes for the European Craft Sector & the Creative Europe Programme, explores how to strengthen European crafts.
Passed down for generations in rural Bosnia, Zmijanje embroidery weaves identity, tradition, and community, fostering connection and emotional wellbeing.
News from the EU
A new tool is on the horizon for craftspeople across Europe: from December 2025, artisanal products will finally benefit from EU-wide Geographical Indications (GIs).
That means your work, when rooted in a specific place and tradition, can be officially recognised, defended from misuse and valued for what it truly is.
Learn what counts, how it works, and why it matters on the official European Commission page.
The EU is supporting Ukraine’s cultural and educational development, as well as its path to EU integration. A new Team Europe initiative will deploy over 60 coordinated actions to protect cultural assets and support heritage professionals, while an additional €2 million under Creative Europe will be allocated to support Ukrainian artists and cultural institutions.
News from Mad'In Europe
Mad’in Europe as a proud collaborator took part in the closing event of Transcultura, a UNESCO programme funded by the EU that supported over 2,700 young creatives from 17 Caribbean countries. Through training, exchange and sustainable cultural tourism, the programme built meaningful bridges between Caribbean and European craftspeople. We also contributed to shaping the future of Santa Clara College in Havana as a space for craft education and innovation.
Non-formal education is key to preserving craft heritage and fostering sustainable, inclusive learning.
In April 2025, BRICKS launched its first study visit in Gdańsk, where participants from across Europe explored how lived practice complements academic approaches in shaping the future of craft education. Discover more on the BRICKS website.
AGENDA : News from the European Craft Alliance
Join the first-ever ECA Summer School (21 July – 16 August 2025) : A free, flexible online programme exploring sustainability, entrepreneurship and creativity in European crafts, with weekly curated content and reading highlights.
May this summer be a time to slow down, create with your hands, and nurture your well-being.
