Participants are invited to create an original video presenting the gestures, movements, sounds, textures, materials and techniques involved in a craft practice.

The video should be between 2 and 5 minutes long and must be submitted by 30 August 2026.

Here are 4+1 reasons to take part

.1. Bring craft knowledge and techniques to a wider audience

Many craft techniques are practised within workshops, families and local communities but remain largely unknown to the wider public.

Video can make these practices more visible by showing how a technique is performed, how particular tools are used and how different materials behave during the making process.

Such content can help audiences understand that craft is not only about the finished object. It is also about knowledge, skill, precision, experience and the relationship between the maker and the material.

By documenting and sharing these processes, participants can introduce audiences to techniques they may never have encountered before and contribute to the recognition and transmission of craft knowledge.

2. Reveal the performance behind craft

Craftsmanship can be highly visual, rhythmic and expressive.

The flow of the hands, repeated movements, the sound of tools, the behaviour of materials and the interaction between people and machines can all become part of the story.

The contest encourages participants to focus on:

• movements, gestures and techniques;

• sounds, textures and materiality;

• the role of the human maker or machine;

• spoken reflections or explanations of the process.

The aim is to present real stories and authentic visual narratives that reveal the craft process as a performance in its own right.

Thoughtful and visually engaging storytelling can transform a making process into a powerful account of the knowledge, passion and expertise behind a craft practice.

3. Share craft practices with an international audience

The winning video will be showcased at the Tracks4Crafts final exhibition in Antwerp.

The winner will also be announced and promoted through the Tracks4Crafts website, the project’s social media channels and the communication networks of the Tracks4Crafts partners.

This offers an opportunity for a craft practice to reach audiences beyond its immediate community and to connect with organisations, institutions and creative professionals across Europe.

Participation can also contribute to the broader visibility of traditional and contemporary craft practices, highlighting their cultural, creative and social value.

4. Access international opportunities and professional support

The winner will become a Tracks4Crafts Ambassador and will have the opportunity to take part in three international activities:

• Accelerator4Crafts;

• the Skillman International Forum;

• the Tracks4Crafts Exhibition.

Travel and accommodation costs for one person will be covered up to a maximum of €1,000, in accordance with the contest conditions.

The winner will also have the option to participate in an individual online craft business model consultation, conducted in English, with Professor Annick Schramme from the University of Antwerp.

The consultation is particularly relevant to those who are preparing to launch a craft business or are already running one and would like to strengthen and further develop their business model.

+1. Professional filming equipment is not required

Professional video production is not necessary.

A well-filmed video recorded with a smartphone is sufficient.

Videos may adopt a documentary approach or another creative and artistic format. Images, sound and storytelling should be used to communicate the performance and meaning of the making process.

Each video should:

• introduce the participant and the craft practice;

• focus on the movements and gestures involved in the making process;

• respond clearly to the theme of the contest;

• make effective use of images and sound;

• be visually engaging, thoughtful and authentic;

• demonstrate passion and expertise in craftsmanship;

• include a reflection on how traditional craft practice is transmitted;

• be presented in English when spoken language is used;

• be between 2 and 5 minutes long;

• be submitted in MP4 or a similar video format.

Before filming, participants are also encouraged to consult the living heritage filming toolkit available through the official Open Call.

Who can participate?

The contest is open to individuals and organisations connected to craft from across the European continent, not only from EU Member States.

• Eligible participants include:

• craftspeople, makers and designers;

• students in craft-related disciplines;

• innovators integrating new technologies into crafts;

• craftspeople, makers, designers, students, innovators and filmmakers participating in duos or groups;

• craft hubs, associations, heritage institutions, development agencies and professional networks working together with craftspeople, makers, designers, students or innovators.

What will the selection consider?

Submissions should respond clearly to the theme:

Movement & Gesture – The Aesthetic & Performance of Craft Processes.

• Strong submissions will:

• document the gesture, movement and performance involved in a craft and its making process;

• combine meaningful messages with engaging visuals;

• demonstrate passion and expertise in craftsmanship;

• reflect on how traditional craft knowledge and practices are transmitted;

• present original, authentic and visually engaging storytelling.

Put craft in motion

Every craft carries knowledge, movement and a story worth sharing.

Whether the practice involves clay, textiles, wood, metal, stone or another material, the contest offers an opportunity to reveal the gestures, sounds, textures and techniques behind the making process.

Original videos of between 2 and 5 minutes must be submitted by 30 August 2026.

The winner will be announced in October 2026.

Craft is a world shaped by hands. The Tracks4Crafts Video Contest invites participants to reveal the story of making through movement and gesture.

👉 Further information, the full Terms and Conditions and the submission form are available at:

https://tracks4crafts.eu/videocontest