@CVO Gent
The first meeting of the Education Working Group is a fact! A number of our project partners, who are each involved in craft education in their own way, recently met in the ateliers of CVO Gent to exchange views. The focus group took place in the inspiring classroom of the handloom training course, where no fewer than 150 looms are on display. They all need these, as the classes are well packed. The different types of looms make it possible to offer a wide range of weaving techniques to both beginning and advanced students. After the focus group, we were given a tour of the workshops of the furniture upholstery and bookbinding courses. There, traditional presses and techniques are used to realise books of all shapes and sizes on the one hand, and to restore antique furniture to its former glory on the other.
The input from this working group complements the research of PhD researcher Tim Dierickx, who is presently carrying out an analysis of the current state of craft education in Flanders. In this first phase, the focus is on mapping crafts education and identifying challenges and opportunities within the field. The findings will later be presented in a position paper that will be shared with all stakeholders. We would like to share below a small selection of the many insights that emerged from the conversation, without wanting to draw big conclusions too soon.
New versus defunct crafts courses
For this kick-off meeting, the working group delved into the following key questions:
- Which craft courses have disappeared in the last 20 years?
- What are the reasons behind their disappearance?
- What new craft training courses have been added?
- What major changes and trends do we see in a 20-year period?
A recurring theme was the fragile position of craft training. At one organisation, for instance, a substantial list of training courses appeared to have already disappeared in the past 20 years for various reasons of which not having a qualified eerkracht is one. Policies and agencies such as VDAB often put pressure on craft training because the relevance is not always recognised. It was noted that once courses disappear, they rarely come back, losing valuable knowledge and forcing students to go into the private market or abroad.
Technology and lifelong learning
New courses in the craft field often seem to be more technology-oriented, partly to respond to contemporary trends and industry. Digital subjects such as designing with 3D tools or laser cutting have been added, although this difference in popularity is strongly determined the specific craft. For example, courses in jewellery arts and woodcarving embrace digital techniques, while students in hand weaving often prefer the physical, manual aspects of their craft. Another visible shift is that courses are increasingly offered in modular format, as well as responding to current themes such as sustainability.
A notable trend is that many students combine several courses and at the same time choose to seek continuing education in an educational context. For example, art students from higher education come to CVO or DKO to learn specific techniques, or they take courses at Syntra to work on a business plan. Some simply keep taking classes for their own pleasure or to learn from other masters. As one of the teachers present aptly put it, ‘You don’t only learn a craft in class, but mainly through your own exploration alongside the lessons in which you will immerse yourself. You also have to be involved outside the lessons to really learn the craft.’
Although colleges, Syntra’s, CVOs and DKOs each pursue their own target group and specific objectives, a general conclusion of the working group was that there is a need for more structural cooperation and referral. Currently, this often happens informally or through individuals, but a clear, coordinated approach is lacking. Setting up a structured collaboration platform would help better guide and refer students to the courses that best suit their needs.
This first working group meeting is a valuable step towards a stronger and more sustainable future for craft education in Flanders. We will keep you updated on the progress!