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Description
In the Bohemian Perfection project, we focus on practical online networking (regardless of the Covid19 pandemic situation) of traditional craftsmen with fashion, textile and home accessories producers, designers, and tourism professionals. We believe this is the key to fully integrate traditional crafts into the economy and to save them.
The aim of this 18-month project is to create a platform that will strengthen the business skills of selected traditional craftsmen and enable them to establish cooperation with partners in production, design and tourism. We will cooperate not only with traditional craftsmen and producers but also with 2 domestic and 1 foreign partner (National Institute of Folk Culture, design Studio Jaroš ČVUT and Høgskulen for grøn utvikling).
The aim of creating an interconnection platform (reached via 7 act.) is to develop traditional craft techniques by strengthening the competitiveness of their bearers through a combination of contemporary design and modern production; applications in tourism with the support of local cultures, all in comparison with the experience of a Norwegian partner specializing in regional development based on the cultural heritage. The selection of partners targets professionals in the field of traditional culture and strengthening its bearers in localities and universities, which educate potential successors and benefit from an active connection with traditional crafts.
We join the project with activities that open up the future of traditional handicraft production, which can no longer be preserved by maintaining traditional morphology or by one-off events, but only by systematic and targeted support of the business environment so that it becomes part of our present material culture again.
Summary of project results
Behind the creation of the platform is the fact that for the past 5 years we have not come across a nationwide search site. Even the representatives of local info centres often do not know the manufacturers operating in their area. The products of traditional crafts are not "old", it is enough to discover them and use their potential for the future. Project promoter therfore approached around 800 very diverse producers with an offer to get involved.
The result is a free database: parties register, fill in a profile which they can edit. We approve it on the basis of quality criteria that we have defined in collaboration with the partners'' experts. The manufacturer also communicates the production capacity, which is an important parameter for the commercial sphere. In addition to the works aimed at exposing the platform, project promoter have organized several online educational seminars for craftsmen and has recorded a series of 10 podcasts, PP has opened the topic of traditional crafts to university students.
The platform is an online shortcut to manufacturers of crafts products who have the capacity and interest to collaborate with commercial/design sphere. It reflects their production capacities. Are you a fashion designer looking for an embroiderer? You will find it. Do you want to design an original pipe? Get a partner here. The platform presents the technology thus justifying the fair price of products and reinforces the sustainable business of craftsmen as parts of our cultural heritage.
Summary of bilateral results
Cooperation with Hogskulen for gron Utvikling (Norway) constited of online consultation meetings. The outputs of the consultations have served primarily in the implementation of activity dedicated to tourism. PP entered the project with the assumption that Norway (given the important position traditional crafts have in its cultural heritage) would have a developed system of using such products as souvenirs or e.g. workshop visits as part of tourism products. PP was extremely surprised to find that this is not the case (among other things because the major part of tourism in Norway consists of large cruise ships, which brings with it a number of specifics) - the market has the decisive say in Norway as well.