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Title of Abstract:

CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINING CRAFTS (Ref #293)

Date:
03-02-2007 10:39:47
Status:
Accepted
Rating:
8
Details:
Abstract


Craftspeople around the world struggle with a wide range of environmental, cultural, economic, social, health, legal and technological challenges that arise from our increasingly globalized and competitive world. These challenges include depletion of natural resources; weakened cultural traditions and the crafts that accompany them; international competition accompanied by a race to the bottom with prices; exposure to toxins; and intellectual property violations. Our research took us around the world twice, to over 30 countries and spanned several years. High-end craft artists and indigenous rural artisans often face remarkably similar challenges and the creative strategies for addressing them have broad applicability beyond their specific circumstances, across different types of crafts, all income levels and locations.

Most of the world?s artisans earn very little reliable money, do work that is repetitive rather than creative, and is not particularly relevant to their culture. A major advantage is that they can stay in their village and continue subsistence farming. While globalization has improved the market and income opportunities for some artisans, it has been disastrous for many others who cannot compete with crafts produced elsewhere at lower cost. The future of crafts would seem bleak if we did not look beyond these pressures.

We describe several strategies for coping with environmental challenges: the use of alternative raw materials, design of new small products, fuel efficient kilns and stoves, and crafts made from invasive species. We highlight a small number of efforts that successfully address several challenges: a sustainable basket weaving business; more efficient crafts production; new types of artist/craftsperson collaboration; the transformation of traditional block printing into a high-end craft; crafts as a way to produce creative thinkers; crafts as a tool to change students and a neighborhood; and crafts as the basis for regional economic development.

In addition to the creative strategies we discuss there are several larger trends that give us hope: growth of fair-trade and ethical business, the relocalization of economies, an expanding domestic market for fine crafts in countries with growing middle classes like India and China. We foresee a new international arts and crafts movement that values fine crafts and other handmade items.

We conclude that there is a future for crafts and for the people who make them ? but this future will look very different from today.



Reviewer Comments:

Review #1 : Left on 15-02-2007 15:54:45 #
A wide ranging study of craft, with the potential to give a very interesting overview. The economic models and creative strategies are of particular interest and will no doubt facilitate many conversations at the conference.

8
Review #2 : Left on 19-02-2007 11:37:17 #
I can see an issue in giving all this info out in such a short presentation time, although it hits exactly many of the issues affecting thhe crafts today, If the economic models and creative strategies are placed at the forefront of this paper it will meet some of the most pressing agendas we face.

8

Public Comments:

Comment left by Sandra Browne on 31-03-2007 18:48:22 #
This is indeed looking at many aspects or many issues directly relevant to craftspersons worldwide. I am pleased that someone is dealing with the issue of alternative raw materials and also the matter of health. This is especially important for many artisans who use toxic chemicals or are inadvertently exposed to materials which are cleaned with adverse chemicals.
Comment left by Elinor Gollay on 13-05-2007 16:53:09 #
Unfortunately, because the conference declined to grant us concessionary rates we will not attend and will not present this paper. We are totally self supported in our research and told everyone quite clearly that we could not attend unless the lower rate was provided. This paper is based on a book we are writing about challenges craftspeople face around the world as a result of various global changes. This was to be the first public presentation of our research. If anyone is interested in our work, please contact us directly at gypsying@aol.com. We look forward to hearing from you and regret we will not be meeting you in person.
Comment left by Elinor Gollay on 31-05-2007 16:09:56 #
Good news! I will be able to attend the conference after all. The full paper will be available at the conference. See you there!