Our mission

A commitment to preserve and transmit skills as part of European intangible heritage.

What would our culture and territorial diversity be without the skills of professionals in fine crafts and traditional crafts, of conservators-restorers of cultural heritage, of designers and architects? Could we admire a Portuguese building covered with Azulejos, be astonished by the beauty of Notre Dame de Paris and the extravagance of Mikhail Eisenstein’s facades of Alberta Street in Riga? Would we have the choice between a “ceramic of Caltagirone” from Sicily, “Delft tiles” from the Netherlands,  a “Boleslawiec pottery” from Poland  or an “Alsatian Betschdorf” jug from East France? Not to mention the colourful elegance of the Vyshyvanka, the Ukrainian embroidered shirt and the glittering gold details of the “ traje de luces”, the Spanish torero’s suit. 

And last but not least, from an economic point of view, would Europe attract so many visitors every year without conservators of paintings, sculptures, frescoes, buildings  and so much more? 

These are only a few examples among many that illustrate the way skills and knowhow have marked our world, not only through exceptional achievements but also in our daily life.  For thousands of years professionals have transformed wood, clay, metals, stone glass pigments and so many other materials with creativity, sense of beauty, and research for quality and durability.  Skills and knowhow were handed down from generation to generation, and were progressively enriched by innovation and cultural evolution.  

This is what we have the privilege to inherit and the duty to safeguard today :  our intangible heritage. 

The achievements of crafts and heritage professions tell us who we are and where we come from because they are the essence of European diversity and territorial identities.  In these days of environmental anxiety, we can say that these professions are consistent with the European Green Deal’s development goals, because they are human based professions, embedding well-being, responsible production and consumption, supporting local economies, reducing waste and impact on climate.   

However, despite their ungraspable values and social, economic and environmental benefits the sector is experiencing massive threats. The most crucial are the irresponsible mass production of low-cost products that threaten small businesses by unfairly competing with their product price and stronger marketing power, the ageing of professionals and the lack of transmission to young generations.  

To address these issues Mad’in Europe’s has started its activity in 2023 with the objective of bringing sustainable and concrete support to European micro-businesses in crafts and heritage.  

OUR MAIN ACTIVITIES   

Assistance to professionals in European crafts and heritage conservation, that includes, subscription to the portal madineurope, support in digital transition, coaching in marketing and communication, translations, graphic design, interviews, participation in international events, opening of collaboration opportunities.

A dynamic, multilingual and easy-to-use platform that enables professionals from crafts, conservation-restoration, design, architecture, education and cultural heritage, to showcase, explain and promote activities, techniques, events, formal and non formal education offers, research and other data. The search engine and multilingual keywording system make professionals closer to their targets. 

A multimedia communication strategy, including newsletters, social media and in presence participation to international conferences and events that contribute to raise awareness about the value of heritage professions and encourages wiser consumption habits; Our strategy also aims at changing the mindset of young generation about crafts professions and at considering them as a career opportunity.

Activities supporting the transmission of skills through formal and non formal education, such as collaborations with schools, youth workers and other stakeholders sharing our vision and mission.  

Exchange with policy makers, European institutions and other stakeholders to whom we provide bottom-up information from the field, in order to better evaluate the needs of the sector. 

European projects. Thanks to the partnership with other European stakeholders in projects funded by the European Commission, Mad’in Europe empowers its action in favour of the valorisation and transmission of skills at a European level. So far we are collaborating with partners from Italy, France, Portugal, Rumania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Georgia, Belgium, Switzerland,  Denmark. More projects are in preparation. For more information see EUROPEAN PROJECTS.

Membership in international networks. Mad’in Europe has joined European networks, such as the World Crafts Council Europe, the Heritage Alliance 3.3. and the New European Bauhaus, to reinforce its engagement in the valorisation of crafts and sustainable practices and in the safeguard of Cultural Heritage. 

Internships opportunities

Mad’in Europe offers internship opportunities to students in business, cultural management, architecture, design, law and international relations, who wish to better acknowledge the richness and diversity of European heritage and the value of  intangible heritage as an asset to build  a more responsible and sustainable future. Interns are accepted for a minimum of 4 months. To see internship offers, please follow this link to the ERASMUS INTERN PORTAL

Internship applications must be sent here (madina.benvenuti@madineurope.eu)  with a motivation letter and CV in English.  English level C1 is required.