Assessment and opportunities on the occasion of Homo Faber 2024: a decisive stage to reflect on the progress of Homo Faber Economy, which aims to regenerate the artisanal and entrepreneurial fabric of Venice
Seven months after the kick-off and on the occasion of Homo Faber in Città, a seminar takes stock of Homo Faber Economy, the project created to regenerate the social and entrepreneurial fabric of Venice through managerial and technological skills in craftsmanship, promoted by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice in partnership with Fondazione di Venezia and Upskill 4.0, and recipient of the I.C.O.N.A. funding from the Veneto Region.
Titled Assessment and opportunities on the occasion of Homo Faber 2024, the meeting on the future of craftsmanship and local businesses, organized at the end of September at the Auditorium Lo Squero of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, involved a network of experts and professionals, highlighting how Venetian craftsmanship can evolve through innovation and sustainability while keeping its historical identity alive.
The future of craftsmanship and Venice
“Over the years, thanks to Homo Faber, Italy and Venice have become the capitals of a certain way of understanding craftsmanship, which intersects art, economy, and territorial development. Visiting the Homo Faber exhibition, one is struck by the very strong link between fine craftsmanship and the luxury industry. It is an independent craftsmanship, micro-enterprises with a know-how that support and legitimize the narrative of craftsmanship on an international level. It is a bespoke industry that finds a fundamental complement in fine craftsmanship (in decoration, fashion, mechanics).” explained Stefano Micelli, president of Upskill 4.0 and coordinator of the Homo Faber Economy project.
At the center of the discussion was the concept of craftsmanship as a driver of local development and a tool to strengthen historic cities like Venice through economic activities rooted in the territory. As Micelli pointed out: “In recent months, a more community-based, network-oriented dynamic has been created with the protagonists of the Homo Faber Economy project—artisans with different ambitions, where each contributes to their own growth while simultaneously leading to the growth of Venice.”
A new development model for Venice
The meeting highlighted the collaborations formed between local entities and the importance of supporting entrepreneurial initiatives focused on sustainability and tradition.
During the first phase of the project, focus groups and in-depth visits stimulated the creation of a solid and community-based network of artisans operating in various sectors, from upcycling to wood design, from Murano glass jewelry to high-tech textiles: twelve Venetian businesses contributed to strengthening the entrepreneurial fabric of Venice.
The importance of diversifying artisanal initiatives, making them accessible in new forms, strengthening them to create new consumption models, and developing a network that offers greater growth opportunities to micro-enterprises—addressing common challenges and collaborating for the relaunch of Venetian craftsmanship—were some of the themes that emerged during the day.
A point of reflection was the intervention by Filippo Berto, entrepreneur of Berto Salotti in Meda, on his own model of innovation that does not distort tradition but rather enhances it, stating that a company can maintain a strong artisanal identity while integrating new technologies necessary to face global market challenges.
Marc Bayard, representative of Mobilier National, touched upon the theme of craftsmanship combined with sustainability as an aspect increasingly appreciated by younger generations: “The link between craftsmanship and sustainability is stronger today than ever. Today, sustainability also means product durability, an aspect highly valued by younger generations.”
The day concluded with a visit to Homo Faber and a reflection on the next steps of the project
In the coming months, Homo Faber Economy will continue with interactive training modules focusing on the development of digital and entrepreneurial skills, essential for supporting the growth of new businesses and the evolution of existing business branches.
At the end of the meeting, Stefano Micelli led participants on a visit to the exhibition Homo Faber: The Journey of Life, which for an entire month celebrated craftsmanship as a vital expression of creativity and skill.
The works and installations on display demonstrated how artisanal mastery represents a fundamental resource for building the future, thanks to its ability to integrate with innovative and technological processes in harmony between tradition and modernity, as supported by the central message of the Homo Faber Economy project: innovation is based on solid cultural and manual roots, artisanal skills that pave the way toward future challenges.
The entities participating in the project
Twelve Venetian entrepreneurial entities have joined the Homo Faber Economy project: Martina Vidal Venezia, Tabinotabi, Amourrina, Marisa Convento, Antonia Sautter, Paperwool, Made with patience, Lunardelli Venezia, Andreina Brengola, Perlamadre Design, and Orsoni Venezia 1888.
National and international network partners
Seven national and international network partners are participating in the Homo Faber Economy project: Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte in Milan; Artex, Center for Artistic and Traditional Craftsmanship of Tuscany; Les Ateliers de Paris, the Design, Fashion, and Artistic Professions office that implements the City of Paris policy in favor of creative professions; Cockpit Studio in London; Le Mobilier national in Paris, which manages and preserves the national heritage of furniture and textiles; and the communication agency Venezia da Vivere.
The Homo Faber Economy research project
Homo Faber Economy (HFE) is a research project promoted by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice in partnership with Fondazione di Venezia and Upskill 4.0 (PR Veneto FSE+ 2021-2027 – DGR. 727/2023 VENEZIA I.C.O.N.A. – Code 2120-0001-727-2023 – CUP H77G23000350002). Aimed at the employed, un-employed, and job seekers, the project focuses on the needs of the Venetian fine craftsmanship sector. Through training and reskilling initiatives, the project aims, on one hand, to meet the innovation and technological development needs of MSMEs in the sector; on the other, to enhance the managerial skills of freelancers and workers through the Design Thinking methodology. Finally, thanks to the applied research conducted by Upskill 4.0 in collaboration with Fondazione di Venezia and Venezia da Vivere, HFE contributes to the relaunch of artisanal activities in the city of Venice and the lagoon, with the goal of encouraging the start-up of new businesses and the development of innovative business branches.
Article by Lucia Pecoraro with the contribution of Upskill 4.0.
Photos © Settimo Cannatella and © Marta Formentello.
