Revitalizing Folk Crafts of the V4 Countries through the Development of the Creative Industry
oject ID: 22520254
Implementation period: 1.1.2026 – 1.5.2027
Grant support: €39,950
The project is a joint initiative of four partner organizations from the Visegrad Group countries – Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. Its aim is to strengthen the position of traditional folk crafts in contemporary society and to explore ways of naturally integrating them into 21st-century life.
The lead partner of the project is the Hungarian association Békés Megyei Népművészeti Egyesület (Békés County Association of Folk Art). Project partners include the Czech National Institute of Folk Culture, the Polish Zakopane Cultural Centre, and the Slovak Centre for Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV). The cooperation of these institutions builds on their long-term professional experience in the protection, research, documentation, and support of traditional crafts and intangible cultural heritage.
Project Objective
The project responds to contemporary challenges such as globalization, the unification of cultural expressions, and the weakening awareness of cultural roots. Its ambition is to preserve and further develop the traditional folk crafts of the V4 countries, support the transfer of knowledge between generations and across countries, connect traditional costume heritage with the creative industry—particularly contemporary fashion and design—and strengthen regional and national identity through innovative forms of presenting traditions.
The central theme of the project is the traditional folk costume (kroj), a distinctive symbol of cultural identity in individual regions. Partners will explore possibilities for its contemporary interpretation and adaptation into everyday life while respecting the authenticity and value of original craft techniques.
The project is primarily intended for craftspeople, producers of traditional garments, clothing and textile designers, as well as community workers and experts in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. These groups have a strong multiplier effect—the knowledge and experience gained will be further disseminated within their communities, educational activities, and professional networks.
Main Activities
The project will be implemented from January 2026 to May 2027 and will include several interconnected activities:
International Conference (Hungary)
A three-day professional conference will present the traditional costume heritage of all four countries. The conference will be part of a major festival of folk textiles in the Carpathian Basin and will provide an opportunity to present the results to a broader public.
Four International Workshops (Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland)
In each partner country, a two-day workshop will take place with the participation of experts from all four states. The workshops will focus on presenting local costume traditions, experimenting with their contemporary adaptation, collaborative creation, professional consultations, and documenting the design process as a methodological model. An important aspect is the process itself—the dialogue between tradition and contemporary design and between creators from different countries and communities.
Digital Publication and Virtual Gallery
The final outcome will be a joint digital publication in English presenting the working methodology, documenting the course of the collaboration, introducing the created designs and final products, and offering best practices applicable in further work.
A virtual gallery will also be created to make the results accessible to a wider audience through the partners’ websites and social media channels. The combination of in-person meetings and online tools will make it possible to reach audiences who have not previously engaged with traditional culture.
The project is co-financed by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for.