10 local arts

1. 10 localarts . Or whatwelearnt

2. The aim of the project was • to get to know traditions and crafts in partner countries; • non-formal communication among craftsmen by demonstrations of crafts; • to get to know different attitudes towards pensioners in partner countries.

3. Project partners Norway • Lithuania • Slovakia

4. Craftsatpresent • The priority of the project was to learn simple basics of crafts chosen by our project partners. • Preserving production procedures and transfering them and other traditions to new generations.

5. Involvingadults - pensioners • We came to real project outputs and active involvement of pensioners in social life as follows: Economic area • they began earning some extra money Social impact • they feel they are a part of a local community and social life

6. they preserve regional traditions and transfer them to younger generations • they represent added social value and make local atmosphere complete • they communicate between themselves and exchange their experience • they create an open community • they have always something to talk about

7. Problems • undervalued handwork of high quality • respect towards older people and their skills is disappearing • the young generation often undervalue skills of the older generation • (it results mainly from inappropriate PC skills because older people are afraid of breaking a computer down)

8. underestimated social value of craftwork and handwork in our society caused by globalization and mass production of cheap foreign products • it doesn´t matter if it is Made in USA, or EU, everything is Made in Taiwan  • an undervalued arttherapy by crafts • in Slovakia also managers took part in the project; they say they have never relaxed as well as while knitting

9. Necessary corrections of a present situation • founding organizations on a Europe-wide basis focused on crafts and promotion of cultures in countries • development of a regional trademark for traditional local products made not only by professional craftsmen but also by so-called home craftsmen if comply with quality criteria • EU support

10. Possibilitiesof EU support • to support local craft and art organizations including traditional folk groups, groups of swordsmen, theatres etc. • to establish artthearpy centres – the biggest problem is their technical and technological equipment

11. Successoftheproject • We had a good luck for partners! • Great cooperation with people really interested in crafts and folklore. • Communication between partners was at a great level. • Even just basic English knowledge of some participants was not a problem. • Intensive project meetings and their very good programmes.

12. Family atmosphere among international groups. • Absolutely reliable project coordinators. • Active use of international meetings for new crafts trainings. • Getting to know traditions and culture in partner countries. • Project promotion in regional media. • Very good cooperation of partners with national agencies, especially during statement of costs.

13. Project outputs