The European Crafts Alliance (ECA) is seeking proposals from expert consultants or research entities to produce a foundational study on the relationship between craft practices and health/wellbeing.
This new research will build directly on the foundational studies the ECA has conducted. Applicants are encouraged to review this existing work, which is available on our main research publications page:
This new report will be the first in a series of research initiatives under the ECA’s CraftsNet project, co-funded by the European Union. The aim is to gather robust, actionable evidence on how crafts contribute to mental, emotional, and social wellbeing, ultimately informing future policy.
The deadline for submissions is 30 November 2025.
Full details on the scope of services, deliverables, budget, and application requirements are provided below.
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CONTEXT
The European Crafts Alliance (ECA) is commissioning a study on the relation between crafts and health to deepen understanding of how craft practices, environments and communities contribute to wellbeing across Europe.
Although crafts play a vital cultural, economic and social role, the sector remains insufficiently documented. In most countries, there are no specific or official statistics on crafts – and even less at European level. This lack of reliable data continues to limit the development of effective policies that could enhance the sector’s competitiveness, sustainability and visibility.
Recent European research initiatives have begun to shed light on the diversity and impact of crafts. Building on this growing knowledge base, the present study will focus on an area that has so far received limited attention: the connection between crafts and health.
Emerging evidence suggests that engaging in craft activities can generate positive effects on mental health, emotional balance and social wellbeing, both for practitioners and for communities. This study will gather data, analyse relevant examples and identify practical pathways for recognising crafts as a meaningful contributor to wellbeing and public health.
The research will be conducted within the framework of the CraftsNet project, led by the ECA and co-funded by the European Union. Over the next four years, the ECA will conduct a series of studies within CraftsNet to generate in-depth knowledge about the needs, challenges and opportunities of the European craft sector. The present study, Crafts and Health, is the first in this series.
By advancing this line of inquiry, the ECA seeks to promote a more comprehensive understanding of crafts; one that highlights not only their economic and cultural value, but also their potential to foster wellbeing, inclusion and sustainable ways of living across Europe.
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE
The contracted service is the creation of a research report on the relationship between crafts and health. The aim is to provide robust, actionable evidence on how craft practices and communities contribute to wellbeing across Europe. The research should consider recent trends, including the use of craft for self-care, mindfulness, stress reduction, and social connection, while also examining any associated risks and limitations.
The successful contractor will perform the following tasks:
- Analysis: Analyse the benefits of crafts for mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.
- Mapping: Map and assess evidence and case studies from across Europe demonstrating the use of crafts in wellbeing and health-related contexts.
- Data Collection: Gather and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data on how craft activities influence wellbeing outcomes, focusing on mental health.
- Identification of Gaps: Identify key enablers, barriers, and gaps for integrating crafts within health, social, and cultural policies and programmes.
- Policy Formulation: Formulate clear policy and practice recommendations for relevant stakeholders (craft organisations, health/social actors, cultural authorities) to support the recognition of crafts as a meaningful contributor to wellbeing and preventive health.
Methodology and Scope
As an extensive European study, the methodology must ensure a balanced representation across European countries, craft disciplines, and stakeholder types. Minimum expectations include:
- Analysis of information from bibliographic sources on crafts, culture & health in Europe.
- In-depth interviews with key actors: craftspeople, stakeholders, trainers, association representatives, curators and galleries, programme managers, health and social practitioners, etc.
- Development of concrete case studies documenting practices and outcomes.
- Comparative analysis and synthesis e.g., thematic analysis; optional SWOT analysis, where relevant.
- Other techniques considered pertinent by the bidder.
PROJECT DELIVERABLES
The contractor is responsible for producing the following deliverables:
- Final Report on Crafts & Health: In English, electronic format, minimum 40 pages. This must include the full methodology, detailed findings, a description of the dataset, and clear policy/practice recommendations.
- Executive Summary/Policy Brief: 5–8 pages summarising key findings for non-specialist audiences.
- Presentation Material: A PPT/PDF presentation or short video summarising key data and conclusions.
- Presentation of Findings: Presenting the final report findings in a public webinar coordinated by the ECA.
REQUIRED EXPERTISE AND FINANCIAL ALLOCATION
Suitable Candidate
The successful bidder will be an expert consultant or research entity with a stable, multidisciplinary team. Required expertise includes:
- Proven experience in comparable studies relating to crafts, culture, health & wellbeing, and/or social research.
- Experience in policy analysis within a European context.
- Capacity to engage stakeholders across Europe.
- Ability to deliver all outputs in English.
Available Funds
The maximum available budget for this contract is €19,784 EUR, including VAT (rate in applicant’s country) and all associated costs, such as travel, translation, and data collection.
PROJECT TIMELINE
The ECA Secretariat will supervise the implementation of the work through a series of milestone meetings to monitor progress and ensure quality.
The proposed timeline is as follows:
29 October 2025: Call launch
30 November 2025: Deadline for submissions.
By 8 December 2025: Selection process and contracting.
15 December 2025: Inception meeting and delivery of the detailed research plan and methodology.
January 2026: Desk research, design of survey and interview tools, preparation of stakeholder list.
February – March 2026: Implementation of survey and interviews, fieldwork.
End of March 2026: Delivery of first draft of findings and feedback meeting with the ECA.
20 April 2026: Delivery of the final report to the ECA.
The ECA will convene four milestone meetings, conducted online:
December 2025: Inception meeting
January 2026: Work plan validation
March 2026: Progress meeting with interim results
April 2026: Final review meeting
The ECA Secretariat will remain in regular contact with the selected researcher(s) throughout the process to provide guidance, facilitate stakeholder connections, and to review interim outputs.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Proposals must be a maximum of 15 pages and clearly address the following points:
- Contact Details: details of the company, organisation or research lead.
- Proposed Methodology and Work Plan: A detailed outline of the research approach including the sampling plan for the required survey.
- Relevant Experience: Examples of previous relevant work or publications.
- Team Profile: Profiles of the researcher(s) demonstrating relevant experience.
- Indicative Budget: A breakdown of the proposed budget in EURO within the maximum budget of €19,784, inclusive of the VAT rate in the applicant’s country.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Please submit proposals by email to info@europeancraftsalliance.org with the subject line:
Proposal for CraftsNet Report Study 1: Relation of Crafts and Health
Deadline for submissions: 30 November 2025
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Relevance and quality of the methodological approach.
- Proven experience and expertise of the research team.
- Feasibility of the proposed plan and budget.
- European coverage and engagement of diverse stakeholders.
Contact for Inquiries
For questions or clarifications, please contact the ECA Programme Coordinator: