Can ancient hands shape modern futures?
Across Europe, a quiet revolution is unfolding — in workshops, school halls, digital screens, and even virtual worlds. From the rhythmic clang of a blacksmith’s hammer to the delicate movements of Sicilian puppets, a new generation is rediscovering the power of making. What connects a teenage puppeteer in Palermo, a master woodcarver in United Kingdom, and young artisans forging iron or shaping stone? A shared belief: that tradition is not a relic — it’s a living language. One that speaks most clearly when passed hand to hand, craft to craft, heart to heart.
Today, this language is evolving. Through immersive Virtual Reality experiences, young people can step inside artisan workshops, handle virtual tools, and explore centuries-old techniques — without leaving their homes. Digital innovation is not replacing craft; it’s opening the door wider, helping the next generation engage with heritage in ways that feel immediate, exciting, and real.
Craft is not just what we make. It’s how we connect.
Reviving the opera of "Pupi Siciliani"
Daniel Mauceri and Antonio Tancredi Cadili — two generations, one shared mission: revitalising the Opera dei Pupi. Daniel is a master puppeteer; Antonio, a passionate young enthusiast, brings new energy and vision to this timeless art.
What does an ancient puppet theatre teach a generation born in the digital age?
Daniel Mauceri, puppeteer and artisan from Syracuse, has a clear answer: engage young people with their hands before their words. In his workshop, all generations learn to mould papier-mâché and craft metal, and above all discover that “everything they see is handmade.”
Antonio Tancredi Cadili, a 15-year-old from Palermo, is a powerful example of how young people can help revive traditional arts like the Opera dei Pupi. Antonio blends tradition with modern relevance, creating characters like judges Falcone and Borsellino to connect the past with civic memory and justice. He even envisions a video game to make this heritage engaging for his generation.
What began as childhood fascination has grown into a deep personal commitment: he owns over sixty puppets, built a home theatre, and stages performances for his peers.
Alistair Park - The heart of craft in woodcarving
“A great craftsperson does not necessarily make a good teacher… but then no craftsperson knows everything there is to know… Who would want such knowledge – it would probably mean the end of feeling any joy in working when there is nothing left to learn.”
Alistair Park
For Alistair Park, craft isn’t about elite schools or exclusivity. It is about creating space for joy, effort, and discovery.It’s in this open space between knowing and the desire to keep learning that craft finds its future. And where it speaks most powerfully to the next generation.
We’re glad to share Alistair’s reflections and the story behind a life spent carving on his profile.
Polish crafts & the reDiscover project
The reDiscover project shines a light on the traditional crafts of Poland’s Kashubian region through six remarkable artisans: Alicja Serkowska (Glass Painting), Monika Wieczorkowska (Ceramics), Elżbieta Żuławska (embroidery), Stanisław Śliwiński (wood sculpture), Henryk Lessnau (horn processing), and Regina Białk (basket weaving). Each preserves a unique folk tradition passed down through generations. Some of them now share their skills with young creatives through workshops and training activities, helping ensure these crafts continue to evolve and inspire.
Learn more about the project and the crafts involved.
LE PÔLE DE LA PIERRE - A Hub for Stone Craftsmanship
Le Pôle da la Pierre is a dedicated space for learning traditional stone-related trades through hands-on courses ranging from short workshops to in-depth multi-month programs. This training center, run by AWaP (Wallonia Agency for Heritage) , focuses on preserving Wallonia’s cultural heritage and combines education, restoration, and awareness-raising to safeguard historic building techniques.
This course delves into methods for dating masonry and understanding construction through stone itself.
Dates: September 22–24, 2025
A 3-day course focused on stone in contemporary and heritage construction.
Dates: October 9, 16, and 23, 2025
FORGING FOR THE FUTURE
In recent years, Emanuele Corradin has faced significant challenges but never stopped forging, creating, and passing on his knowledge. This June, Mastro Corradin opens the doors to three exclusive forging workshops, inviting a new generation to discover the magic of working with fire and iron.
Read the full story and learn how you can take part in the workshops.
Emanuele participated in the first study visit in the context of the BRICKs project in Poland.
News from Mad'in Europe
Crafting Europe Manifesto 2025 in Paris
On 22nd May 2025, during Révélations 2025 at the Grand Palais in Paris, the European Crafts Alliance (ECA) unveiled the Crafting Europe Manifesto 2025 during the symposium Towards a European Strategy for Crafts.
This renewed call to action responds to today’s cultural and economic shifts, highlighting the urgent need to support Europe’s vibrant craft sector. Co-designed by 38 organisations, including Mad’in Europe, across 23 countries, the manifesto sets out a shared vision to protect, promote, and sustain traditional skills and innovation across Europe.
International Congress of Artisans Congress in Léon
On June 4–5 2025, we took part in the International Craft Congress in León, Spain: a key European event exploring how the craft sector can grow in the 21st century. On the second day, our director Madina Benvenuti offered a reflection on the challenges, priorities and future perspectives of the craft sector in Europe.
She also presented Mad’in Europe as a digital platform that supports artisans and small businesses by connecting them across borders — contributing to a stronger, more visible European craft ecosystem.
(Video starts at minute 18 — live version)
Advocating for crafts at the Danish democracy festival
Folkemødet, Denmark’s democracy festival that places dialogue between citizens and decision-makers at its core, offered a valuable opportunity to advocate for stronger craft policies. As part of the CRAFTOUR initiative, and thanks to an invitation from the Hephaestus project, organized by their partner BOFA, we engaged with policymakers, NGOs, and citizens to highlight the cultural, social, and economic importance of crafts.
We also met with PhD students working on craft-related topics to discuss the current challenges facing the sector and explore how research, public action, and European funding can help address them. The festival’s informal and participatory setting enabled rich exchanges, bringing crafts into the heart of future-oriented policy discussions.
Resource centre
The guidebook by Grégoire Vigneron is a must-have for anyone passionate about contemporary book arts, a great way to develop an interest in paper art in all generations.
A creative guide through six timeless craft professions, designed to inspire young people to explore the opportunities offered by traditional building crafts.
Immersive Virtual reality tools
The CYFE project engages youth (ages 13–18) through immersive 360° virtual tours, letting them explore real artisan workshops and learn about tools and techniques via smartphone, PC, or VR.
From the CRAEFT Community
“We believe that traditional crafts are powerful resources for shaping the future. We are deeply involved in the transmission of artisanal knowledge both through formal training and non-formal education.
Thanks to European projects and cross-border collaborations, we help ensure that craftsmanship remains accessible, alive, and relevant for younger generations.”
Mad’in Europe 2025
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