Global Craft & Sustainability Festival — Barcelona 2026

The Craftwork Festival 2026 invites European practitioners to Barcelona for three days of exhibition, exchange and reflection on how craft can shape a more sustainable, circular and environmentally responsible practice.

Participation can happen in-person in Barcelona or online in the Business Financial Skills for Artisans and Makers seminar. All applications must align with the festival’s core themes: sustainability, circular economy, recycling & upcycling. Proposals that engage with intergenerational transmission of craft knowledge, heritage-based making, and the intersection of traditional craft and digital tools are particularly welcome.

Eligible countries are Bulgaria, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, France, Ireland, Slovenia, Serbia, Slovakia and Greece. Applicants should apply through the Sending Organisation of their country of residence : Bulgaria - OECON, Greece - CUBE, Italy - Materahub, Portugal - ARTE.M, Spain - Espronceda, Sweden - Sensus, Croatia - Culture Hub Croatia, France - Villette Makerz, Ireland - CARLOW COCO, Slovenia - Center Rog, Serbia - NOVA ISKRA, Slovakia - CIKE. Selected participants will be required to attend all programme sessions and actively engage in all planned activities. Full attendance is compulsory in order to receive the final Certificate of Achievement.

2-4 December 2026 , 3-day in-person participation, including exhibition, possible workshops and talks at ESPRONCEDA, Institute of Art and Culture, Barcelona, Spain, at least 6 invited local participants + 22 international participants.

It is for:

• Artists, craftspeople, makers, designers and creative practitioners working in any discipline (design and craft, sculpture, mixed media, collage, audiovisuals and other contemporary formats, fashion,…).
• Individuals exploring sustainability, circular economy, recycling, upcycling through material practice.
• Practitioners interested in intergenerational craft exchange, heritage-based making, and the intersection of traditional craft and digital tools.
• Creatives curious about hybrid formats combining exhibition, performance, direct exchange with audiences.

Participants will exhibit selected works at ESPRONCEDA during the festival; optionally lead or co-lead a workshop, demonstration, talk or open studio, take part in thematic round tables on sustainability, circular economy and craft; connect with the Craftwork 4.0 ALL consortium, the Drap-Art network and sister EU projects -Hands Across Generations, GreenCCIrcle Academy, Time for (S)Heroes and Professional Media Presence.

Participants will gain:

• International exposure within Drap-Art’s 30th anniversary edition and the Craftwork 4.0 ALL European platform.
• Direct contact with European cultural operators, festival audiences and partner organisations.
• Documentation of work in the festival’s open archive and online platform.
• Certificate of Achievement issued by ESPRONCEDA / Craftwork 4.0 ALL.
• Inclusion in the festival’s post-event communication and dissemination across partner channels.

The financial support for in-person Festival participants covers travel, accommodation and food . It does not cover shipping of artworks to or from Barcelona, nor insurance during transport.

Friday 4 December 2026 morning , 60-90 minute live online seminar + optional live streaming of festival panels, online streamed live from ESPRONCEDA, Barcelona, minimum 22 online participants.

It is for:

• Artisans, craftspeople, designers and makers who want to strengthen the financial and business dimension of their practice.
• Emerging or established practitioners looking for practical tools on pricing, cost calculation, income planning and financial sustainability.

Participants will attend the live online seminar on Friday 4 December 2026; complete short pre-work sent one week in advance and engage in the live practical exercise during the session; take part in the moderated Q&A with the speakers; optionally follow additional festival panels via live stream.

Participants will gain:

• Access to the full Business Financial Skills for Artisans and Makers guide, with exercises applicable to their own practice.
• Session recording, shared post-event.
• Certificate of Achievement issued by ESPRONCEDA / Craftwork 4.0 ALL.
• Inclusion in the festival’s post-event communication and dissemination across partner channels.
• Membership of the online participant community and continued engagement across Craftwork 4.0 ALL’s 12 partner countries.