Wednesday, 10 June 2026
11.00 – 12.30 CET | Online
Programme | Meet the Keynote: Dr. Anne Kirketerp | Meet the Panel | NEB Festival 2026 | Past NEB Webinars
We know that making things by hand is inherently good for us, and our recent sector report on Crafting Health and Wellbeing proves exactly that. But how do we turn this research into reality to support public health and social cohesion?
We are pleased to invite you to our seventh NEB webinar as part of the New European Bauhaus Festival 2026 Satellite Programme. Taking place online, this session bridges the gap between theory and practice. The event begins with a keynote on the physical and mental impacts of making. Following this, we will present three European case studies demonstrating how creative practices build resilience in youth, encourage mindfulness in adults, and promote active ageing for seniors.
Programme
11.00 CET
Welcome & Introduction
With Siobhán Joyce O’Callaghan (Programmes Coordinator, European Crafts Alliance)
11.10 CET
Keynote: The Lifecourse Approach to Crafting Health & Wellbeing
With Dr. Anne Kirketerp, Ph.D. (CEO, Founder & Pioneer of Craft-Psychology®)
Backed by a robust evidence base, Anne will illustrate how craft functions as a powerful cross-generational intervention. She will introduce the foundational framework for how making builds cognitive reserve in youth, provides stress regulation for adults, and supports social connectivity and active ageing for seniors, setting the perfect stage for our European case studies.
11.25 CET
European Case Studies: Craft Across Life Stages
Following the keynote, we will journey through three distinct life stages to explore real-world craft interventions:
- Youth: Craft School
With Nicky Dewar (Crafts Council UK)
Integrating a hands-on “Make First” pedagogy into the curriculum to provide vulnerable youth with a sense of agency and belonging. - Adulthood: Woodcraft for Wellbeing
With Alex Finberg (Woodcrafters)
Advancing green social prescribing through woodworking as an evidence-informed mental health and wellbeing intervention. - Seniors: The Borris Lace Project
With Helena McAteer (Borris Lacemakers)
Adapting historical lacemaking techniques for active ageing to combat rural isolation, promote positive mental health, maintain physical dexterity, and pass on cultural heritage.
12.00 CET
Audience Q&A
The audience will be invited to submit their questions via the chat function, which will be answered live by our guest speakers during this interactive session.
12.25 CET
Closing Remarks
Meet Our Keynote Speaker
Dr. Anne Kirketerp, Ph.D.
CEO, Founder & Pioneer of Craft-Psychology®
Meet the Case Study Panel
Nicky Dewar
Director of Programmes
Crafts Council UK
With 25 years’ experience in the arts sector, Nicky is a senior leader shaping national direction, sector strategy, and public programming for the UK craft sector.
During the webinar, Nicky will present Craft School, a nationwide initiative reclaiming the place of making in young people’s lives. By integrating a hands-on “Make First” pedagogy into the curriculum, she will demonstrate how craft-based learning provides vulnerable youth with a sense of agency, belonging, and a tangible connection to the material world.
Alex Finberg
Founder
Woodcrafters
Alex is the founder of Woodcrafters, a UK-based social enterprise advancing woodcraft for wellbeing as an evidence-informed mental health and wellbeing intervention across community and health settings.
His case study focuses on green social prescribing, illustrating how Woodcrafters equips practitioners with the tools, training, and research literacy to bring mindful making into therapeutic contexts. Alex will share strategies to establish woodcraft as a scalable, deeply human response to modern collective wellbeing challenges.
Helena McAteer
Secretary
Borris Lacemakers
A retired teacher and founding member of the Borris Lacemakers, Helena is dedicated to reviving a unique lace tradition dating back to 1846. She exhibits internationally and helps lead Creative Ireland-funded initiatives focusing on creativity in older age.
During the webinar, Helena will share a case study on adapting historical lacemaking techniques for the over-65 population. By accommodating age-related conditions like arthritis and failing eyesight, these initiatives combat rural isolation, promote mental health, and maintain physical dexterity, empowering older generations to pass on cultural heritage while building sustainable models of care.
The 2026 Festival: Life. Spaces. Buildings.
Our webinar is a proud part of the wider New European Bauhaus Festival Satellite Programme for 2026. The third edition of the central festival runs in Brussels from 9 to 13 June under the theme Life. Spaces. Buildings. Inspired by the Danish architect Jan Gehl, who noted that life must always precede spaces and buildings, the event places communities at the heart of the built environment.
This year focuses heavily on democratic engagement and affordable housing. The main gathering is free and open to the public, creating a platform to explore how sustainable environments foster community and strengthen resilience. By aligning with these broader festival themes, our webinar places the craft sector right at the centre of this vital European conversation.
Crafting a Beautiful, Sustainable Future
The European Crafts Alliance has been an official partner of the New European Bauhaus since 2021. The initiative encourages us to build a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls. To support this vision, we developed our webinar series to explore how crafts can contribute towards building more resilient societies.
Explore Our Previous NEB Webinars
Over the past years, we have explored a wide range of essential topics. If you missed any of our previous broadcasts, the recordings are readily available on the ECA YouTube channel.
- Sustainability – WATCH HERE
- Use of Digital Technologies – WATCH HERE
- Circular Economy – WATCH HERE
- Geographical indicators for the craft sector – WATCH HERE
- Innovation & Experimentation – WATCH HERE
- Social Inclusion – WATCH HERE
The event is part of the CraftsNet project, co-funded by the European Union.
photo: Hemera Technologies from Photo Images