A Strategy for the Enhancement of the Alpine Space Typical Products Alpine Space Summit Work Group meeting: A Strategy for the Enhancement of the Alpine Space Typical Products CRAFTS

“COOPERATION AMONG REGIONS OF THE ALPS TO FORWARD TRANS-SECTORIAL AND TRANSNATIONAL SYNERGIES” REFERENCE TO THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME PRIORITY 3MEASURE 3.2 PRIORITY 3, MEASURE 3.2 CRAFTS

PARTNERSHIP LEAD PARTNER: - Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (IT) PROJECT PARTNERS: - GAL Appennino Genovese Liguria Region (IT) - Lombardy Region (IT) - Valle d’Aosta Region (IT) - Piedmont Region (IT) - Metrò Grenoble (F) - SIR Fachbereich Dorf und Stadterneuerung Salzburg (A) - GLATI Tessin (CH) - Mestna Obcina Nova Gorica (SLO) - Krajevna Skupnost Solkan (SLO) - Rezbarsko, Intarzijsko in Restavratorsko Drustvo Solkan (SLO) - Srednja Lesarska Sola Nova Gorica (SLO)

The cultural heritage of the Alpine Area Regions has run the risk of disappearing because of depopulation, radical social modifications and, above all, technological progress: the traditional artisan activities, techniques and specific know how, that were at the base of mountain economy, have been almost completely abandoned and it is particularly difficult to stimulate a generation-turnover. Handicraft culture and traditional techniques are a unique heritage that must be preserved and turned into an economic opportunity for Alpine territories, through the experimentation and development of synergies with tourism, in order to enhanced the territory, maintain the population and improve local services. BACKGROUND

depopulation and radical social modification disappearing of traditional techniques PROBLEMS THAT HAVE GENERATED THE IDEA little consideration of the field by new generations

creation of synergies with tourism creation of synergies with tourism introduction of the title of “Shop of Excellence” introduction of the title of “Shop of Excellence” creation of “Schools Shop” creation of “Schools Shop” exchanges between masters of arts & crafts exchanges between masters of arts & crafts POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS – key word: SINERGY

strengthening competitiveness; strengthening competitiveness; development of networks; development of networks; exchange of good practices between regions of the alps; exchange of good practices between regions of the alps; reinforcement of transnational cooperation; reinforcement of transnational cooperation; safeguarding and improving culturale heritage; safeguarding and improving culturale heritage; COHERENCE WITH THE ALPINE SPACE PROGRAMME

ACTIVITIES FORESEEN survey of typical artisan business and identification of qualification and experience required for the recognition of excellence;survey of typical artisan business and identification of qualification and experience required for the recognition of excellence; pilot projects for the ehancement of villages through the synergiy between arts&crafts and tourism;pilot projects for the ehancement of villages through the synergiy between arts&crafts and tourism; re-activationg artisans shops for production and exhibition managed by resident artisans and start-up of new businesses;re-activationg artisans shops for production and exhibition managed by resident artisans and start-up of new businesses; activating exchanges between “master artisans” of partner countries with the aim of favouring confrontation between the different processing techniques;activating exchanges between “master artisans” of partner countries with the aim of favouring confrontation between the different processing techniques; planning in collaboration with all partners, training courses for young people in order to favour generation turnover;planning in collaboration with all partners, training courses for young people in order to favour generation turnover;

ACTIVITIES FORESEEN organisation in the shops of short training courses for tourists on the various techniques utilised; organisation in the shops of short training courses for tourists on the various techniques utilised; organisation of thematic exhibition of arts & crafts manifactures in collaboration with all partners; organisation of thematic exhibition of arts & crafts manifactures in collaboration with all partners; dissemination of results; dissemination of results;

EXPECTED RESULTS rules and regulations for the award of artisans excellency; rules and regulations for the award of artisans excellency; training opportunities for young people; training opportunities for young people; pilot project villages/initiatives for experimenting synergies; pilot project villages/initiatives for experimenting synergies; website; website; transnational fair on arts & crafts; transnational fair on arts & crafts; permanent work group between public and private institutions; permanent work group between public and private institutions;

MAIN PROJECT OUTPUTS The project has elaborated a methodology to define and develop synergies between Alpine Space traditional arts & crafts and tourism in order to preserve and enhance handicraft heritage and to guarantee an adequate income to the Alpine populations. Project partners have developed 5 pilot projects: 1) Re-activation of artisans’ shops for the production, exhibition and sale of products managed by resident artisans; 2) Creation of an Hemp Route including the construction of a tilled field and of an eco-museum; 3) Museums of enterprises: a network of business museums for niche artisan activities; 4) International Exhibition on Wood of Grenoble: a European meeting on wood sector; 5) Tourist itinerary that re-discovers the artisan traditions of the area concerned. At present the methodology CRAFTS project proposes makes up the base for the definition of rules and regulations concerning traditional excellence in the arts & crafts. Furthermore, the results of the pilot projects are being used by the administrative bodies of the single partner Regions for the elaboration of strategies of intervention to guarantee sustainable development and, in general, for the formulation of specific bills in support of the socio-economic marginal alpine areas. Furthermore project results represents the base of integration plans with other sectors such as agriculture and retail businesses.

MAIN PROJECT OUTPUTS -2 - CRAFTS web site where it is possible to find all relevant and detailed information on project objectives, methodology, pilot projects, results, partnership, press release, publications and events carried out within project activities.