Global Connections: The ARCH Network Expands

The ARCH was born when four founding partners united to exchange ideas on preserving rare craft skills for future generations. Rather than forming isolated partnerships, they envisioned a vibrant exchange among organizations sharing a common purpose: safeguarding rare crafts through a global network of experts and specialists.

Today, this alliance of thinkers, creatives, craft authorities, and passionate volunteers spans more than 40 countries, driven by a shared conviction in craftsmanship's power to define identities, spark creativity, and enrich cultural heritage. We forge an international structure to strengthen rare crafts, partnering on documentation, renewal, and stimulating demand for threatened practices across Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond.

This growth sparks cross-cultural dialogues, for instance, exchanging insights from the UK's Heritage Crafts Red List to initiatives like Slovenian dry stone walling preservation or Indian initiatives for children to actively participate in crafts. Beyond trends like integrating tech for heritage preservation or blending ancient methods with contemporary design, we craft practical frameworks for grassroots groups worldwide. A prime example: our ongoing development of the Craft Atlas, a tool to evaluate global craft statuses.

We also drive initiatives to boost awareness and value for these skills, such as leading academic research to answer the fundamental question of the value of crafts. Central to this is inspiring youth. We're thrilled to back the Young Living Craft Activists (YLCA) and their volunteer-powered online hub.

Members engage through targeted working groups. Tell us your ideas for unlocking this network's full potential, and how The ARCH can best serve you. This collaborative model highlights collective strength: together, we're not just defending crafts; we're molding them into enduring opportunities.

If your organization champions crafts, join us to extend your reach!