Wire Craft Course

An intensive five-day wire craft course led by an experienced instructor offers participants the opportunity to learn traditional wire-working techniques and explore their creative use in contemporary design. Participants will learn how to shape wire, create loops and spirals, and make strong joints. They will also learn how to wrap ceramic with wire and create their own functional and decorative objects – a hanger, baskets using various techniques, and wire-wrapped containers.

The workshop connects hands-on craft practice with the historical and cultural context of wire craft, a unique Slovak phenomenon. Participants work in the authentic environment of a craft workshop under the auspices of the ÚĽUV´s School of Crafts, established in 1999 and included in the UNESCO Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for Intangible Cultural Heritage. The course is suitable for beginners as well as participants with some basic experience and follows the quality standards of the Erasmus+ programme.

Wire craft – both craft and art – was inscribed in 2019 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, confirming its exceptional cultural importance and international value.

Level: beginners and slightly advanced participants
Language: English
Course date: 10 – 14 August 2026
Time: 9.00 – 16.00 (12.00 – 13.00 lunch break)
Venue: Regional Craft Center ÚĽUV, Dolná 14, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
https://goo.gl/maps/U6yJXcTuNw2DBjQ88

Total duration: 30 hours
Course fee: 600 € / 1 person
Number of participants: 5 people

Application deadline: 20 June 2026

The course will take place only if the minimum number of participants (5 people) is reached.

Course objective: to develop practical skills in traditional wire craft, to deepen understanding of the material and its creative potential, and to introduce the techniques needed to create both functional and decorative objects. It nurtures manual dexterity, creativity, patience, and technical thinking while celebrating Slovakia’s traditional craft heritage.

Programme

Daily schedule: 6 hours per day (the exact timetable will be adjusted according to the group)

Day 1

• Introduction to the history of wire craft in Slovakia,
• Presentation of tools and materials, and safety guidelines.
• Practice of basic techniques – eyelets, loops, spirals, and simple joints.
• Making a wire hanger with three hooks.

Day 2

• Creating a basket using the looping technique – spatial shaping of wire, forming the base, and the body, finishing, and attaching a handle.

Day 3

• Basket using the spiral technique – constructing the frame, spiral weaving of the sides, finishing.

Day 4

• Wrapping a ceramic jug with a wire mesh using square and hexagonal patterns – protective and decorative wrapping of containers.

Day 5

• Wrapping a plate, finishing work, individual consultations, and group reflection.

The course fee includes:

• expert wire instruction in English and hands-on skill development
• all materials (wire and auxiliary components)
• study materials
• use of tools and equipment
• a work apron
• expert lecture on the history and regional context of wire craft
• certificate of course completion

Lunch is not included in the course fee.

Target group:

• students of art, design
• craftspeople and makers interested in traditional techniques
• product and interior designers
• artists working with metal, wire, or mixed materials
• staff of cultural, community, and craft centers
• instructors of informal education and creative workshops
• enthusiasts of traditional crafts and folk culture
• people interested in sustainability, recycling, and creating from simple materials
• anyone wishing to develop manual skills, creativity, and patience

The course meets the quality standards of the Erasmus+ programme.

About the Instructor:

Zuzana Necpálová lives and works in Banská Bystrica. She has been engaged in crafts since her youth and has collaborated with ÚĽUV as an external wire-craft instructor for children and adults since 2018. In her work she focuses on wire-wrapped ceramics, wire baskets, free spatial creations, and author jewelry that combines wire and textile techniques.

Her work is characterized by a sensitive approach to materials, an emphasis on craftsmanship, and the connection of traditional techniques with contemporary artistic language. She also explores experimental approaches to wire craft, including themes of recycling and so-called “trash art.” Her work has been presented at several professional and curated exhibitions in Slovakia and abroad.

Under her guidance, the course offers an authentic experience of working with the material, develops technical thinking and patience, and fosters respect for Slovakia’s intangible cultural heritage.

Additional Information: ÚĽUV can assist interested participants with advice on transport connections, accommodation, and optional leisure activities in Banská Bystrica.

For questions or comments, please contact: courses@uluv.sk