Tracks4Crafts project has developed a travelling library bringing together materials, techniques and stories from eight craft ecosystems across Europe. Small enough to fit into a carry-on suitcase, it unfolds into an exhibition almost three metres long.
Inside the case are material samples, resources and elements of craft processes contributed by the project’s eight pilot partners. Each collection offers a closer look at how craftspeople work with their materials, where those materials come from and the skills needed to transform them.
The Travelling Materials & Practices Library measures just 55 × 40 × 20 cm when packed. Its lightweight, modular displays can be assembled in different spaces, making it suitable for project meetings, exhibitions, workshops and educational events. Visitors can encounter materials directly, rather than learning about them only through photographs or written descriptions.
The library was presented to Tracks4Crafts partners during the project’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Bucharest. It was designed and coordinated by Dr Sofia Soledad Duarte Poblete, in collaboration with Sunjae Kim, under the supervision of Professor Valentina Rognoli, with further contributions from the Materials Design for Transition research group.
The European Crafts Alliance is a partner in Tracks4Crafts, a Horizon EU-funded project examining how traditional craft knowledge is passed on and how it can remain part of contemporary practice.
photo: Tracks4Crafts