Contemporary use of crafts – 9 projects selected

In the third edition of the Open Call Contemporary use of crafts, nine proposals for collaborative projects between artisans and designers have been selected. Coordinator Annique Deneer reflects on the call.

general impression
With an eye on a sustainable future for crafts, the Fund aims to strengthen equal collaboration between designers and artisans through the Open Call Contemporary use of crafts. We invited proposals for explorations, or new uses or applications of traditional and contemporary crafts. The form of the project was free, for instance experimentation in materials and technology, design/artistic research or a special collaboration within a workplace or lab.

That the call resonates with the need in the field to preserve, reinvent and develop contemporary applications for crafts is evident from the number of applications we received. The applications show a remarkably broad interpretation of crafts, which is also reflected in the selection. The selected projects focus on a range of crafts approached from a variety of perspectives.

Machine used to tension wire
Crafting the future of Dutch fibers – An artistic research for local Cattail manufacturing with open-source tools – Iris Veentjer

assessment
The advisory committee consisted of Bao Yao Fei, Desirée Hammen, Job Floris and Ruben van der Scheer. To arrive at a selection, the advisers assessed the extent to which the proposals were consistent in purpose and design and how well they fit in with the theme of this call and the Open Call Grant Scheme. The following criteria were used:

- The innovative quality of the proposal, including the intended added value for the craft;
- The effectiveness of set-up, methodology and expertise involved;
- The way in which the intended collaboration between artisans and designers will be organized;
- The artistic/craft quality of the designer’s and artisan’s work.

The assessment took the form of a tender: a number of proposals were preferred to the other submissions. The quality of the applications was high, with more strong proposals being submitted than could be supported within the available budget.

Glas blowing setup
Atelier Pieke Bergmans B.V. – G(L)AS

selection
The following nine collaborations were selected:
- Overtreders W – Nieuw Nederlands kleurenpalet voor biobased bouwen
- Studio Joshua Klappe – Zelf Buigend Hout
- Studio Wieki Somers – Julia Felix, recycled glas
- Natrufied architecture – Van grond tot gevel
- Anita Michaluszko – Augmented Weaving
- Atelier Pieke Bergmans B.V. – G(L)AS
- Iris Veentjer – Crafting the future of Dutch fibers – An artistic research for local Cattail manufacturing with open-source tools
- Pollyanna Moss – Shed and Heddle
- BIOMA Lab – Biofabricatie & (handgemaakt) Design

numbers
For the Open Call Contemporary use of crafts, the Fund took 44 applications into consideration. With 9 selected proposals, the percentage of applications receiving grants comes to 20%. A budget of € 200,000 was available for this open call. The maximum contribution per proposal was € 25,000. The subsidies are being granted from additional budget for popular culture (intangible heritage), made available to three national culture funds by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

follow-up
In 2024, the fourth and, for now, last edition of the Open Call Contemporary use of crafts will be published. Keep an eye on our newsletter for more information.

Photo above: Studio Joshua Klappe – Zelf Buigend Hout