Alpine Space SummitWork Group meeting:

A Strategy for the Enhancement of A Strategy for the Enhancement of the Alpine Space Typical Productsthe Alpine Space Typical Products

CRAFTSCRAFTS

“COOPERATION AMONG REGIONS OF THE ALPS TO FORWARD TRANS-SECTORIAL AND TRANSNATIONAL SYNERGIES”

REFERENCE TO THE REFERENCE TO THE OPERATIONALOPERATIONAL PROGRAMME PROGRAMME

PRIORITY 3PRIORITY 3, MEASURE 3.2MEASURE 3.2

CRAFTSCRAFTS

PARTNERSHIPPARTNERSHIP

LEAD PARTNERLEAD PARTNER:: - - Friuli Venezia Giulia RegionFriuli Venezia Giulia Region (IT)(IT)

PROJECT PARTNERSPROJECT PARTNERS::- - GAL Appennino Genovese Liguria RegionGAL Appennino Genovese Liguria Region (IT)(IT)- - Lombardy RegionLombardy Region (IT)(IT)- - Valle d’Aosta RegionValle d’Aosta Region (IT)(IT)- - Piedmont RegionPiedmont Region (IT)(IT)- - Metrò GrenobleMetrò Grenoble (F)(F)- - SIR Fachbereich Dorf und Stadterneuerung SalzburgSIR Fachbereich Dorf und Stadterneuerung Salzburg (A)(A)- - GLATI TessinGLATI Tessin (CH)(CH)- - Mestna Obcina Nova GoricaMestna Obcina Nova Gorica (SLO)(SLO)- - Krajevna Skupnost SolkanKrajevna Skupnost Solkan (SLO)(SLO)- - Rezbarsko, Intarzijsko in Restavratorsko Drustvo SolkanRezbarsko, Intarzijsko in Restavratorsko Drustvo Solkan (SLO)(SLO)- - Srednja Lesarska Sola Nova GoricaSrednja Lesarska Sola Nova Gorica (SLO)(SLO)

The cultural heritage of the Alpine Area Regions has run the risk of disappearing because of depopulation, radical social modifications and, above all, technological progress: the traditional artisan activities, techniques and specific know how, that were at the base of mountain economy, have been almost completely abandoned and it is particularly difficult to stimulate a generation-turnover. Handicraft culture and traditional techniques are a unique heritage that must be preserved and turned into an economic opportunity for Alpine territories, through the experimentation and development of synergies with tourism, in order to enhanced the territory, maintain the population and improve local services.

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

depopulation and radical social modificationdepopulation and radical social modification

disappearing of traditional techniquesdisappearing of traditional techniques

PROBLEMS THAT HAVE GENERATED THE IDEAPROBLEMS THAT HAVE GENERATED THE IDEA

little consideration of the field by new generationslittle consideration of the field by new generations

• creation of synergies with tourismcreation of synergies with tourism

• introduction of the title of “Shop of Excellence”introduction of the title of “Shop of Excellence”

• creation of “Schools Shop”creation of “Schools Shop”

• exchanges between masters of arts & craftsexchanges between masters of arts & crafts

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS – key word: POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS – key word: SINERGYSINERGY

• strengthening competitiveness; strengthening competitiveness;

• development of networksdevelopment of networks;;

• exchange of good practices between regions of the exchange of good practices between regions of the alpsalps;;

• reinforcement of transnational cooperationreinforcement of transnational cooperation;;

• safeguarding and improving culturale heritagesafeguarding and improving culturale heritage;;

COHERENCE WITH THE ALPINE SPACE PROGRAMMECOHERENCE WITH THE ALPINE SPACE PROGRAMME

ACTIVITIES FORESEEN - 1 -ACTIVITIES FORESEEN - 1 -

• survey of typical artisan business and identification of survey of typical artisan business and identification of qualification and experience required for the qualification and experience required for the recognition of excellence;recognition of excellence;

• pilot projects for the ehancement of villages through pilot projects for the ehancement of villages through the synergiy between arts&crafts and tourismthe synergiy between arts&crafts and tourism;;

• re-activationg artisans shops for production anre-activationg artisans shops for production and d exhibition managed by resident artisans and start-up exhibition managed by resident artisans and start-up of new businessesof new businesses;;

• activating exchanges between “master artisans” of activating exchanges between “master artisans” of partner countries with the aim of favouring partner countries with the aim of favouring confrontation between the different processing confrontation between the different processing techniquestechniques;;

• planning in collaboration with all partners, training planning in collaboration with all partners, training courses for young people in order to favour courses for young people in order to favour generation turnover;generation turnover;

ACTIVITIES FORESEEN - 2 -ACTIVITIES FORESEEN - 2 -

• organisation in the shops of short training courses organisation in the shops of short training courses for tourists on the various techniques utilisedfor tourists on the various techniques utilised;;

• organisation of thematic exhibition of arts & crafts organisation of thematic exhibition of arts & crafts manifactures in collaboration with all partners;manifactures in collaboration with all partners;

• dissemination of resultsdissemination of results;;

EXPECTED RESULTSEXPECTED RESULTS

• rules and regulations for the award of artisans excellency; rules and regulations for the award of artisans excellency;

• training opportunities for young peopletraining opportunities for young people;;

• pilot project villages/initiatives for experimenting pilot project villages/initiatives for experimenting synergiessynergies;;

• websitewebsite;;

• transnational fair on arts & craftstransnational fair on arts & crafts;;

• permanent work group between public and private permanent work group between public and private institutionsinstitutions;;

MAIN PROJECT OUTPUTS - 1 -MAIN PROJECT OUTPUTS - 1 -

The project has elaborated a methodology to define and develop synergies between Alpine Space traditional arts & crafts and tourism in order to preserve and enhance handicraft heritage and to guarantee an adequate income to the Alpine populations. Project partners have developed 5 pilot projects: 1) Re-activation of artisans’ shops for the production, exhibition and sale of products managed by resident artisans; 2) Creation of an Hemp Route including the construction of a tilled field and of an eco-museum; 3) Museums of enterprises: a network of business museums for niche artisan activities; 4) International Exhibition on Wood of Grenoble: a European meeting on wood sector; 5) Tourist itinerary that re-discovers the artisan traditions of the area concerned.

At present the methodology CRAFTS project proposes makes up the base for the definition of rules and regulations concerning traditional excellence in the arts & crafts. Furthermore, the results of the pilot projects are being used by the administrative bodies of the single partner Regions for the elaboration of strategies of intervention to guarantee sustainable development and, in general, for the formulation of specific bills in support of the socio-economic marginal alpine areas. Furthermore project results represents the base of integration plans with other sectors such as agriculture and retail businesses.

MAIN PROJECT OUTPUTS -2 -MAIN PROJECT OUTPUTS -2 -

CRAFTS web site

http://www.craftsproject.org

where it is possible to find all relevant and detailed information on project objectives, methodology, pilot projects, results, partnership, press release, publications and events carried out within project activities.