Craft Ecosystems across Europe

This book draws on cutting-edge research funding from site-specific European case studies to examine current opportunities and challenges relating to cultural heritage, specifically the role of crafts. The book develops and presents an innovative ‘craft ecosystem’ model that considers a multiplicity of factors relating to the role of crafts in regional economic sustainability and cultural heritage. Split into three main sections, the book focuses on the safeguarding of craft activities, the legal frameworks regulating craft activities, and innovation and creativity in craft-making. It considers specific industries including carpentry, ceramics and silk-making to analyze the economic viability of crafts in Europe today and to demonstrate the importance of regional and local tradition and the nature of ‘place-specific’ crafts as intangible cultural heritage. Each case study provides a historical, economic, social and legal perspective on how these ecosystems function today and the importance of preserving them from a cultural and sustainable point of view. Overall the book makes an important contribution to the current research on the economics of crafts and cultural heritage studies. It will be a valuable tool for students and scholars across these fields.