On the occasion of the presentation of the results of the first edition of theHomo Faber Fellowship, a 7-month professional integration program aimed at master artisans and young graduates in artistic crafts, the Homo Faber Economy project, which draws its inspiration and origin precisely from the Homo Faber exhibition, was presented to an international audience.
Narrating the project was Stefano Micelli, coordinator of Homo Faber Economy, and two of the lead partners, Daniela Lombardo of Patience and Demis Marin of Ramosalso.
The Homo Faber exhibition presents a very rich selection of unique objects made by master craftsmen from all over the world, in a surprising variety of skills, techniques and innovative approaches.
Curated by the Michelangelo Foundation, in partnership with Fondazione Cologni and Fondazione Giorgio Cini, the 2024 edition has the artistic direction of director Luca Guadagnino together with architect Nicolò Rosmarini.This is the third edition and offers visitors a journey along the entire path of human life, from childhood to travel, from love stories to dreams.
With Homo Faber, Italy and Venice have over the years become the capitals of a certain way of understanding craftsmanship, which intersects art, economy and the development of territories.
Visiting the exhibition, one is struck by the very strong link between high craftsmanship and the luxury industry.
It is independent craftsmanship, micro-enterprises with know-how that sustain and legitimize the craft narrative at an international level. It is an industry of the tailor-made that finds in high craftsmanship (in decoration, fashion, mechanics) a fundamental complement.
How can we channel the energy that the Homo Faber exhibition releases more and more each year into the everyday life of an artisan? What answers can we give to those who want to take this path? What tools can we give to those who already have a craft business?
Our goal with Homo Faber Economy in Venice is precisely to give substance to the magic on display at Homo Faber by supporting the entrepreneurial growth of Venetian artisans, creating a strong network and moving forward in community.
In these months of meetings, focus groups, and company visits, we proposed a more collective and community dynamic and analyzed the various aspects of the economy related to high craftsmanship: the world of luxury, customization, craftsmanship 4.0, and the big topic of sustainability.
Together we realized that through our work we can also propose a new model of consumption, under the banner of consuming less and consuming better.
That of craftsmanship is an economy that makes sense of talent, but it must be oriented, building ideas, visions, before artisans face the market.
Our goal with Homo Faber Economy is precisely to give artisans participating in the project a new entrepreneurial profile that has the right balance of culture, tradition and economy.
This was also the focus of an intense morning of discussion at the Lo Squero Auditorium of the Giorgio Cini Foundation on the island of San Giorgio entitled "Assessments and Opportunities at Homo Faber 2024. Inspirations and convergences with the Homo Faber Economy project." with testimonies by Filippo Berto, CEO of BertO, by Elisa Guidi, coordinator at Artex, Center for Artistic and Traditional Crafts of Tuscany, and Marc Bayard, head of programming and cultural development at Mobilier National, a French public institution with a rich history and ongoing commitment to the promotion and preservation of France's artistic and craft heritage.
The presentation at Homo Faber constituted the concluding part of the first phase of the project, dedicated to building new territorial synergies and community building; now we enter the development and training phase.
The themes that emerged during these meetings at Homo Faber on the new challenges of craftsmanship will be the focus of a structured training course, with new interactive and innovative training modules and the development of specific digital and entrepreneurial skills.
Project "Homo Faber Economy" - Code 2120-0001-727-2023 - CUP H77G23000350002 - PR Veneto ESF+ 2021-2027 - DGR. 727/2023 VENICE I.C.O.N.A.