Deadline: 15 September 2026

Crafts represent a beautiful combination of cultural heritage, technical knowledge, creativity, and local identity. Across Europe, however, many traditional skills are facing serious challenges due to an ageing workforce, shifting markets, and a lack of educational pathways.

Building directly on our ongoing mission to overcome critical data gaps, this new research will join our existing library of seven milestone sectorial studies. Together, this growing body of data helps us deeply understand the sector’s vulnerabilities, build collective resilience, and strengthen our advocacy for European crafts. We are looking for an expert consultant or research entity to undertake a comprehensive European study on rare and endangered crafts.

Explore the ECA sectorial research collection>>

The goal is to provide actionable evidence on the current state of vulnerable crafts and propose strategies to safeguard them for future generations. The selected research partner will focus on the following key areas:

  • Analysis and Mapping: Evaluating the current landscape and mapping endangered crafts alongside existing support structures.

  • Data Collection: Gathering qualitative and quantitative insights from craftspeople, educators, and policymakers across Europe.

  • Identifying Best Practices: Highlighting successful initiatives that preserve, transmit, and revitalise craft skills.

  • Policy Formulation: Creating clear, actionable recommendations for regional, national, and European authorities.

 

Key Project Details

  • Deliverables: A comprehensive final report, a short policy brief, and a public webinar presentation of the findings.

  • Budget: A maximum allocation of 16,347.00€ inclusive of all costs.

  • Timeline: The research will be conducted between October 2026 and April 2027.

 

How to Apply

Proposals must be a maximum of 15 pages and include your proposed methodology, team profile, relevant experience, and an indicative budget. Please submit your application by email to info@europeancraftsalliance.org with the subject line “Proposal for Study: Rare and Endangered Crafts Across Europe”.

The deadline for submissions is 15 September 2026.

For a complete breakdown of the methodology, required expertise, and submission guidelines, please download the official Open Call document >>

 

This activity is part of the CraftsNet project, co-funded by the European Union.

 

photo: Extinct craft of Cigar and cigarette making, The Malta Crafts Foundation Red List of Endangered Crafts – 2025 Edition