OmA for European Study Days on Artistic Crafts

After the three international congresses, publications on the subject and a workshop, through which OmA was able, in a short time, to create a relationship of active discussion with the principal European bodies who operate in the field of Artistic Crafts, OmA accepted SEMA’s invitation to participate in the European Study Days on Artistic Crafts, presenting the main initiatives they will be involved in during 2009.
On the eve of the opening day of the JMA (October 15, 2008 – Horne Museum, 11 a.m.), The Osservatorio dei Mestieri d'Arte promoted an event, during which a series of activities were brought to the attention of the public which will materialize during 2009. In a video conference with Paris, the proceedings of the congress Knowledge, Practice and Experience of Artistic Crafts – “Artistic crafts: Museums, Promotion, Education and Training”, held in Florence in May, 2008 and which saw the participation of some of the most prestigious European representatives of the museum organizations dedicated to Artistic Crafts were presented. It is a tool of great interest that tackles in detail the animated European discussions on the need to expand to the maximum the tools for museum education in order to attract the attention of youth towards artistic crafts.

OmA also dedicates special attention to the singularities of Florentine handicraft with its difficulties, but also and above all with its “exceptional nature”. During the opening day, Ms. Nardinocchi introduced Artigiani in Famiglia 2008 (Craftsmen and the Family 2008), an initiative of the Horne Museum promoted in collaboration with OmA to accompany families with children on an itinerary of acquiring an understanding and experimenting with traditional artistic techniques, still alive today thanks to the work and the know-how of Florentine artisans. Now in its second year, Artigiani in Famiglia 2008 was opened on October 16th, 2008 with three days dedicated to the goldsmith’s art. From children to the young craftsmen of the future: during 2009 OmA has allotted three Work Grants, an extraordinary initiative that will allow three young aspiring artisans to be placed inside workshops which, in turn, had shown difficulty in continuing their activity because of the ageing of workers in the craft industry, an extremely serious problem that a large number of European countries complain about.

Franco Vichi, Director of the Fondazione di Firenze per l'Artigianato Artistico proposed the case of four artisans as a badge of the activity carried out side by side with Florentine workshops. Professor Roberto Lunardi then presented the exhibition Le trecce del vento (The plaits of the wind) organized by the Museo della Paglia e dell’Intreccio in Signa which is running from October 2008 until April 2009. Finally, Professor Roberta Ferronato from the University of Florence explained the initiative planned for next September 25th during which a student will receive an award for the creation of the new University logo. The initiative, called La manualità che diventa Arte. Il manufatto artistico nella tradizione fiorentina (Manual Skill that Becomes Art. Artistic handmade articles in the Florentine Tradition), promoted in collaboration with OmA, awarded a prize to eight artisans who distinguished themselves for their works made with the materials they work with daily: stone, wood, cloth, gold, scagliola and painting in the old style.

From international commitment to promotion of the ancient traditional Florentine trades; from the introduction of artistic crafts to children to the collaboration between artisans and universities. The Osservatorio dei Mestieri d'Arte accepted with great enthusiasm the invitation by SEMA in Paris to promote in Europe their constant and attentive work on behalf of artistic crafts, looking with great interest towards the initiatives and solutions put in act by other countries.