The Crafting Europe Manifesto 2025 was officially launched on 22 May 2025 at Révélations, the International Biennial of Fine Craft and Creation, held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, in the presence of representatives of crafts organisations, craftspeople, stakeholders, as well as decision and policy makers from all over Europe.
In response to a rapidly evolving cultural and economic landscape, the European Crafts Alliance (ECA), a network of 38 crafts organisations from 23 European countries, is issuing a renewed Crafting Europe Manifesto—a strategic and reasserted call to action aimed at securing the future of Europe’s diverse and dynamic craft sector.
Originally launched in 2019, the Crafting Europe Manifesto gave voice to Europe’s craft professionals, urging greater recognition and support at the European policy level. The initial Manifesto provided a pivotal platform for European craft professionals to make their voices be heard by the European policy makers. Since then, the sector has made significant strides, but it has also faced unprecedented challenges.
“Crafts are at the foundation of Europe’s identity and economy. This manifesto is our sector’s collective vision—and our call for meaningful, sustained policy action,” said Cristina Mendes, president of the European Crafts Alliance (ECA).
The manifesto lays out an action plan crafted to:
- Acknowledge the Craft Sector’s Impact
- Champion Human-Centric Creativity
- Support Growth Through Legislation
- Foster Education and Skill Transfer
- Drive Innovation and Evolution
- Promote and Preserve Craft Heritage
“With this renewed manifesto, we are calling on EU institutions and national governments to work together to ensure we are not just preserving heritage—but recognising crafts as a driver of sustainability, identity, and economic resilience,” said Laura Miguel Baumann, Secretary General of the European Crafts Alliance.
