Creative Industr. & Craft Develop.
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Crafts Platform in Action
Enhancing Sector's Economic Capacity for Georgia
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _The particular action addresses the field of Georgian Crafts, which in view of this global positive trend and the local opportunities determined on one hand by the brilliant craftsmanship skills and knowledge kept alive in the traditions and on the other hand, by the increasing tourist interest to the region, acquires a significant role for enhancement of social and human development, job creation and economic growth in the country. The focus on crafts is further determined by the fact that being the part of creative industries, crafts, compared to other field of creative industries is often more accessible, as it is less demanding in terms of technological innovations, and therefore of financial capital, and closer to local resources and traditional knowledge.
The particular action draws upon on the outcomes of the ongoing regional project “Strengthening Creative Industries in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia: Heritage Crafts - Common Platform for Development” (2012- January 2014, contract number: ENPI/2011/257-712) funded by the European Union Eastern Partnership Culture programme and implemented by the applicant organization (GACC, as leading partner in cooperation with partner organizations). The ongoing project mainly focuses on crafts sector mapping, assessment studies for the determination of craft actors’ needs, policy recommendations to act as a strategy for the further development of the field on the bases of the best international practices and awareness raising campaign through different media outreach on Crafts sector as a source for economic growth and job creation, altogether contributing to the enhancement of networking opportunities in the sector (for further details please see: http://www.euroeastculture.eu/en/granted-projects/view-26.html). The proposed action “Crafts platform in Action – Enhancing Sector’s Economic Capacity for Georgia” will act as a follow up of the ongoing project and make stress on the actual implementation of Crafts Development Policy and recommendations, drawn directly from the needs of crafts actors.
Overall objective -To Contribute to the transformation of craft sector into a source for job creation and economic growth in Georgia.Specific objectives:
To Strengthen Structural Capacity and Professional Network of the Crafts Sector through the establishment of Georgian Crafts Association and provision of First International Summit of South Caucasus Craftsmen for enhancement of cooperation on the regional level.
To develop Local Crafts Market, Enhance Working Conditions and Business Capacity of Crafts Actors’ through expansion of distribution channels, provision of series of workshops and small grants to craft actors to arrange workshops, studios & shops across the country linked with tourism infrastructure and through the development of new line of crafts products to align with contemporary market requirements.
To Advocate towards Crafts Development Policy Integration into Governmental Policies through the campaigns and meetings with related governmental bodies and local authorities and introduction international experience in raising the status and recognition of people and organizations in crafts sector.
To Facilitate Crafts Education and Transmission of Knowledge by creating informal training opportunities for young generation across the country and developing and of crafts training modules & published guidelines for craftsmen.
Project Leading Partner - Georgian Arts and Culture Center
Project Partners
Center for Strategic Reaserch and Development of Georgia
Economic Affairs Office, Tbilisi City Hall;
Associated Partners: Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia; British Council Georgia________________________________________
Main Activities
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Tbilisi 1st International Summit of Crafts and Design will be held on September 23-25, 2016. The event is organized by Georgian Arts and Culture Center in cooperation with Economic Affairs Office, Tbilisi City Hall and Georgian National Tourism Administration in the frames of GACC ongoing project "Crafts Platform in Action" funded by EU Investing in People Programme. The download full text of the call for participation and application form. Further details will be available soon.
2016, Spring - Summer - Series of meetings and workshops in the regions of Georgia for the representatives of local government as artisans.
December 9, 2015 - The winners of the contest "Craftsman of an Year ". The first prize for thecontribution in engagement of youth in Heritage Crafts was awarded to Eter Urotadze. The second prize winners are Nanuli Azikuri, Eliso Arabuli and Mariam Jujunadze; the third place went to Ivane Kokaia.
November 4, 2015 - GACC and Georgian Heritage Crafts Association invites you to the Woodwork Exhibition of Master Craftsman Zaza Gatenashvili and IDP youth from Tserovani.
October 25, 2015 - GACC and Georgian Heritage Crafts association in the frames of the ongoin EU funded project "Crafts Platform in Action" provided training in Crafts Product Development for the Kisiskhevi "Good House" .
July 8, 2015 – Announcement of the winners of the Small Grants Program 2nd call implemented by the support of the EU, Reserve Fund of the President of Georgia and Foundation of Children and Youth Development Fund
Jun 18-19, 2015 - The workshop “Traditional Crafts – Marketing and Product Development” leaded by the International Consultant Lyn Nelsonhad been held with the support of US Embassy in Tbilisi, Tbilisi Assembly and Department of Culture of Tbilisi City Hall in the frames of project “Crafts Platform in Action” funded by the EU Investing in People programme Georgian
May 15, 2015 - The Presentation of Georgian Heritage Crafts Association was held at theTbilisi Assembly building. The Association was founded in the framework of ongoing project funded by the European Union “Investing in People"
Mat 15, 2015 The Memorandum between Tbilisi City Assembly Tbilisi City Hall Department of Culture and Georgian Arts and Culture Center had been signed. The bodies will cooperate to support development of cultural entrepreneurship.
March 31 - The 2nd call of mall grants programme "Development of Traditional Crafts in the Regions of Georgia and Enhancement of Sector's Economic Viability" is announced
March 17, 2015 - The Heritage Crafts Association have been officially registered
January, 2015 - The monitoring visits to check the progress of the small grants winning projects had been started
December, 2015 - The preliminary campain to promote the anticipated Heritage Crafts Association had been started
December 15, 2014 - Meeting at the Ministry of Culture with stakeholders to present the Crafts Sector study and development recommendations
November 2015 - Consultations for grant recipients in project management and reporting
November 3, 2014 - Announcement of Small Grants winning projects
October 7-9, 2014- The training for the finalists of the Small Grants Programme in preparation of business plan and full application form
July - September, 2014- Regional consultation meetings and workshops
July, 2014 - Announcement of Small Grants Programme "Development of Traditional Crafts in the Regions of Georgia and Enhancement of Sector's Economic Viability"
June 28 - July 4, 2014 - Visit of consultant Tracey Clarke, Talent Development Manager at the UK Crafts Council
July 1, 2014 - Official presentation of the project at the Wine Factory #1.
May 23-24, 2014 - Visit of Mrs. Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director of UK Crafts Council, President of the World Crafts Council Europe
May 14-15, 2014 - Presentation of the Crafts sector study and ways of further development for the better managment of regional resourses to the representatives of regional authorities and Small and Medium Cities.
March 28, 2014 - GACC hosted the first meeting of Partners. The meeting had been attended by the representatives of Center for Strategic Reaserch and Development of Georgia; Economic Affairs Office, Tbilisi City Hall; Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia; British Council Georgia and Georgian Arts and Culture Center. Had been discussed the methodology and working plan of the implementation of the project, defined the members of Steering committee
March 1, 2014 - Date of Project's official start
