Craft Matters

Can the physical resistance of stone or wood be taught through an online screen? How do physical limits and budgets fuel creativity? And as artificial intelligence ushers in an era of "mind-made" objects, how do we ensure that handmade craft does not  become a luxury only for the wealthy?Learning a craft is often romanticised as a beautiful, intuitive process. But as Swedish swordsmith Peter Johnsson points out, true mastery actually means getting comfortable with disappointment, and learning to navigate the constant "mismatch" between the perfect vision in your head and the reality in your hands.In this episode of Craft Matters, Adriana Campo speaks with three guests,  who approach the realities of craft education from different angles.We hear from Peter Johnsson, a world-renowned master swordsmith; Sébastien Mainil, an architect leading heritage training centres in Belgium to keep traditional building skills alive; and Siyu Liu, an emerging contemporary designer and basket weaver based in Barcelona.Together, they explore,  what it actually takes to master a craft.In this episodePeter Johnsson, Master swordsmith, Sweden To see Peter’s work, visit https://swordreflections.com/Sébastien Mainil, Acting Director (Directeur f.f.) at the Walloon Heritage Agency (Agence wallonne du Patrimoine), Belgium Learn more about the training centres: https://be.linkedin.com/company/agence-wallonne-du-patrimoine-awapSiyu Liu, Architect, contemporary designer, and basket weaver, Barcelona To explore Siyu’s projects, visit http://www.creatforfun.comLearn more New to Craft Matters? Listen to Episode 1 to understand the policies shaping the sector, and subscribe so you don't miss Episode 4!More about the European Crafts Alliance: europeancraftsalliance.org Follow us on Linkedin│Instagram│Facebook│YoutubeCredits Host and producer: Adriana Campo Continuity announcer: Rachel Kelly Story editor and dramaturg: Ana Kuntarič Brodersen Executive producer: Laura Miguel Baumann Produced by the European Crafts Alliance Music: The Walking Song by Adam Ben Ezra (album: Hide & Seek)DisclaimerCo-funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the European Crafts Alliance.About the European Crafts Alliance The European Crafts Alliance is an independent non-profit network representing over 40 member organisations across 25 European countries. It works to strengthen and support the crafts sector across Europe.The podcast Craft Matters is a podcast by the European Crafts Alliance exploring the people, policies, and practices shaping craft across Europe — from independent makers to cultural institutions and decision-makers. Through interviews, stories, and field recordings, the series reveals how craft lives, evolves, and contributes to Europe’s economic and cultural future.

When we look at a piece of fine jewellery, we notice the shine of the metal and the precision of the design. What often remains unseen is everything that came before it. Years of practice. Repetition. Patience that is difficult to measure.In this episode of Craft Matters, Adriana Campo speaks with master goldsmith Pura Ferreiro. For more than 30 years, Pura has worked with granulation, an ancient and highly demanding technique in which tiny spheres of gold are fused, one by one, onto a surface.It is slow work. It cannot be rushed.Behind the finished pieces also lie questions.What does it actually take to build a life around this level of craftsmanship? How do you sustain a practice that resists speed? What does mastery cost, financially and personally? And what happens when careful, time-intensive work meets an economy built on scale?In this episodePura Ferreiro, Master goldsmith and granulation specialist, Munich.To see examples of Pura’s work, visit https://www.puraferreiro.de/Learn moreNew to Craft Matters? Listen to Episode 1 to understand the policies shaping the sector, and subscribe so you don't miss Episode 3 coming next month!More about the European Crafts Alliance: europeancraftsalliance.orgFollow us on Linkedin│ Instagram│Facebook│YoutubeCreditsHost and producer: Adriana CampoContinuity announcer: Rachel KellyStory editor and dramaturg: Ana Kuntarič BrodersenExecutive producer: Laura Miguel BaumannProduced by the European Crafts AllianceMusic: The Walking Song by Adam Ben Ezra (album: Hide & Seek)DisclaimerCo-funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority.Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the European Crafts Alliance.About the European Crafts AllianceThe European Crafts Alliance is an independent non-profit network representing over 40 member organisations across 25 European countries. It works to strengthen and support the crafts sector across Europe.The podcastCraft Matters is a podcast by the European Crafts Alliance exploring the people, policies, and practices shaping craft across Europe — from independent makers to cultural institutions and decision-makers. Through interviews, stories, and field recordings, the series reveals how craft lives, evolves, and contributes to Europe’s economic and cultural future.

When we talk about craft, we usually imagine hands, clay, wood, and textiles. We rarely imagine glass, steel, and signatures. But somewhere between the laws written in Brussels and the workbenches in the workshops, there is an invisible connection we do not often stop to look at.In the first episode of Craft Matters, presented as a micro-documentary, host Adriana takes us on a journey through the European craft ecosystem. We explore the distance between policymakers and practitioners, revealing how laws, institutions, and skilled hands are deeply interconnected.What happens to the European identity if we lose the skills to make things with our hands? And does the system truly understand the hands it governs?In this episodeCynthia Ní Mhurchú — Member of the European ParliamentCristina Mendes — President, European Crafts Alliance; Deputy Director, CEARTEHugh Roche Kelly — Independent woodturner, head of workshop at the Sonian Wood CoopEvy Lenoir — Traditional roofer; President, Union of Heritage Craftspeople (UAP)Learn moreDiscover more about the European Crafts Alliance at europeancraftsalliance.orgFollow us on Linkedin│Instagram│Facebook│YoutubeCreditsHost & Producer: Adriana CampoContinuity Announcer: Rachel KellyStory Editor & Dramaturg: Ana Kuntarič BrodersenExecutive Producer: Laura Miguel BaumannProduced by: European Crafts AllianceOriginal Music: The Walking Song — Adam Ben Ezra (from the album Hide & Seek) DisclaimerCo-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the European Crafts Alliance. About the European Crafts AllianceThe European Crafts Alliance is an independent non-profit network organisation representing over 40 member organisations across 25 European countries, dedicated to strengthening and supporting the European crafts sector.The podcastCraft Matters is a podcast by the European Crafts Alliance exploring the people, policies, and practices shaping craft across Europe — from independent makers to cultural institutions and decision-makers. Through interviews, stories, and field recordings, the series reveals how craft lives, evolves, and contributes to Europe’s economic and cultural future.