When we gathered in Oulu for the CRAFT-IT4SD 3rd Plenary Meeting, there was a shared sense of purpose from the very first morning. Partners from across Europe arrived with ideas, experience and a commitment to shaping more sustainable futures in the craft sector. The meeting opened with energy, curiosity and a clear focus: to advance our work together.
The first day began with a rich exploration of how climate change is affecting craft businesses. VTT led a thought-provoking session on climate and business models, inviting us to rethink strategies and consider how sustainability can be embedded into the heart of craft. The discussion, guided by Annu Markkula, Hannamaija Tuovila, Silvia Forin and Eveliina Hylkilä, made it clear that climate resilience and creativity can go hand in hand.
Later, the room shifted into a collaborative mode as Aarhus University facilitated a highly interactive session on cross-pilot collaboration. Partners shared their experiences, exchanged tools and searched for synergy between pilots. Through dialogue led by Adriënne Heijnen and Marianne Ping Huang, new possibilities emerged for working more closely across national and thematic boundaries.
The afternoon continued with a focus on skills and learning. Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași presented the development of micro-credentials, offering a glimpse into how individuals can acquire targeted expertise for a sustainable future in crafts. Aura Mihai’s presentation sparked discussions on formats, recognition and relevance for craft practitioners.
The day concluded with a practical and strategic discussion on replication and KPIs, once again guided by Aarhus University. Franziska Garms and Martin Wurzer helped shape a shared understanding of how successful approaches can be scaled and how impact can be measured across the project’s lifespan. It was a reminder that creativity must be supported by clear frameworks.
Before the evening closed, the group enjoyed an inspiring business introduction from Brightplus and a visit to the Taito crafts community, where sustainable craft practices could be seen in action. The combination of innovative materials and traditional making offered a fitting conclusion to the day.
If Day 1 set the energy, Day 2 strengthened the connections. The focus turned to two core building blocks of the project: how we will share our results and how we will coordinate our work.
Photo credit: Tommi Karjalaine, OAMK
The morning began with an exhibition planning workshop led by CreativeFED. Herman Bashiron Mendolicchio guided partners in imagining how project outcomes could be translated into engaging exhibition experiences. The conversation centred on audiences, storytelling and impact — how to bring the essence of CRAFT-IT4SD into public spaces.
In the afternoon, VIA University College led the development of the Method Playbook, a key resource that will support partners throughout implementation. Rune Thorbjørn Clausen facilitated a collaborative session to ensure that the playbook will provide clarity, encourage consistency and enable innovation across all work packages. The workshop highlighted how shared tools can strengthen shared goals.
Throughout the day, the atmosphere was one of alignment, co-creation and genuine collaboration. Teams compared notes, refined strategies and identified next steps. The message was clear: working together, we can achieve far more than working alone.
Looking Ahead
As the two days came to a close, there was a collective feeling of momentum. The conversations, workshops and shared reflections provided direction and confidence in the road ahead. From climate strategy to cross-pilot learning, from exhibition planning to the Method Playbook, the meeting laid important foundations for the next phase of the project.
The Plenary Meeting in Oulu was not only productive — it was inspiring. The strength of the consortium lies in its diversity, and those days showed how innovation, sustainability and craftsmanship can grow when expertise is shared openly.
We left Oulu excited for what comes next, continuing to build on the strong start made together.
