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New Ways to Basketry Craft in Germany, Poland and Slovakia
GPS brings together basket makers, educators and cultural organisations from Germany, Poland and Slovakia to explore how traditional craft can remain – or become again – relevant, visible and sustainable in contemporary Europe.
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Discover our journey, the people behind the project, and what we experienced along the way.
About
Three Nations, One Vision
What does it mean to be a European community? Partners from Germany, Poland, and Slovakia explored what connects us through basketry, what we can learn from one another, and how we can shape new ways of basketry education together.
01 · Project Overview
GPS – navigating the promotion of basketry across communities, societies, and countries.
02 · Project Goals
Explore practical goals focused on sharing good practices, enhancing learning outcomes, strengthening community impact, and preserving intangible heritage.
03 · Erasmus+
Learn how Erasmus+ co-funding supports cross-border cooperation, skills development, and cultural exchange across Europe.
04 · Partners
Get to know us: open detailed partner profiles for ZEF, Serfenta, and Združenie košikárov Slovenska.
About · Partners
Get to Know Us
Meet the organisations from Germany, Poland, and Slovakia driving the GPS cooperation.
01
ZEF e.V.
ZEF (Zentrum Europäischer Flechtkultur Lichtenfels e.V.) is based in Lichtenfels, known as a centre for connecting craftspeople, institutions and creative partners in Germany and Europe.
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Serfenta
Serfenta is a UNESCO-accredited organisation that promotes and safeguards basketry through research, education and international cooperation by combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative business and educational models.
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Združenie košikárov Slovenska
The Association of Basket Makers of Slovakia (ZKS: Združenie Košíkárov Slovenska) brings together basketry enthusiasts and practitioners committed to preserving, sharing and developing basketry traditions.
Visit WebsiteImpressions
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Activities
Activities - Read and be Inspired
Follow our journey across Europe. Discover each partner’s work, ambitions, and the challenges they face in preserving and developing the craft of basketry.
Study visit in Poland – SERFENTA
Craft experiences as a way to engage the general public.
Learn moreStudy visit in Germany – ZEF
Today, successful basketmakers need more than outstanding craft skills.
Learn moreStudy visit in Slovakia – ZkS
The indispensable role of communities and state support.
Learn moreResults and Key Findings
New Ways to Basketry
The study visits in Germany, Poland and Slovakia revealed several common themes that point towards the future development of basketry in Europe.
Education
Basketry education today needs to connect manual skill, entrepreneurship, communication and collaboration.
Craft Experience
Basketry offers meaningful hands-on experiences that connect people with nature, wellbeing and traditional knowledge.
Innovation through Business and Design Thinking
A sustainable future for basketry requires offers shaped around people, value and adaptable business models.
Promotion
Visibility, storytelling and collaborative communication help basketry reach new learners, customers and supporters.
Strong Communities
Trust, mutual support and active exchange are key foundations for long-term basketry cooperation.
The Value of Basketry
Basketry creates cultural, social, environmental and local value beyond the finished product.
Craft, Design and Innovation
Traditional basketry remains relevant when craftspeople and designers develop new ideas together.
Sustainability
Basketry offers ecological alternatives through natural materials, low-energy making and long product life cycles.
Offers
What You Can Use
The GPS project aims to create practical opportunities that strengthen basketry education, professional development and international cooperation. The following ideas emerged during the study visits and form the basis for future collaboration.
Common offers
A key finding of the project is that basket makers need support not only in developing their craft skills, but also in building sustainable careers.
ExploreCatalogue of opportunities
The project envisions a European catalogue bringing basketry-related opportunities together in one accessible platform.
ExploreEuropean map
A long-term objective of GPS is to develop an interactive European Basketry Map connecting people, organisations and educational opportunities across Europe. By making basketry more visible and easier to access, the network can continue to grow and create new opportunities for education, collaboration and professional development.
ExploreNews & Events
Updates at a glance
Join the Specialist Day!
The Specialist Day – New Ways for Basketry! We invite you to explore the future of our craft – across borders, experiences and perspectives. The event is organised by the international team of the Erasmus+ project „GPS – new ways to basketry craft in Germany, Poland and Slovakia“. We are going to work together for […]
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