On 27–29 October 2026, CRAFT-IT4SD will bring together craft, cultural heritage, technology and sustainability in Oulu for the project’s Final Exhibition.
Conceived as a multilayered experience, the exhibition will showcase how traditional craft knowledge, creative practices and emerging digital tools can contribute to more sustainable futures for the cultural and creative sectors and industries.
Across three days, visitors and participants will be invited to explore a programme combining physical and digital exhibition formats, interactive moments, thematic conversations, workshops, performances and opportunities for exchange. The event will highlight results, prototypes and processes developed through the CRAFT-IT4SD pilot activities, while opening space for dialogue between makers, researchers, creative professionals, policymakers, local communities and wider audiences.
What to expect
The Final Exhibition will offer a first-hand look at how craft can become a driver for sustainable transformation. The programme will include:
A physical exhibition at the STARTS Lab Oulu, highlighting selected works and prototypes developed through our pilots—emphasizing traditional craftsmanship reimagined through digital and cross-disciplinary processes.
A virtual exhibition, presented in a digital twin of the STARTS Lab, extending access and engagement beyond geographical boundaries and providing an immersive digital experience of the exhibited works.
Two live performances, merging craft, sound, dance, movement, and storytelling, showcasing the rich intersections between contemporary art, craft, and cultural heritage.
One thematic seminar, featuring keynote presentations and panel discussions, engaging artists, researchers, technologists, and policymakers in dialogue on the role of crafts in shaping sustainable, creative futures. The involvement of the Sami community will be central to this event, ensuring indigenous perspectives and voices are represented.
Participatory workshops exploring sustainable materials, digital tools, repair, circular design and creative innovation.
Opportunities to connect with local creative communities, project partners and stakeholders from across Europe.
The creative direction behind the exhibition
The exhibition will be shaped by a cross-disciplinary approach, bringing together craft, technology, design, artistic research and sustainability.
It will promote collaboration across academia, small enterprises, independent artists, cultural organisations and local creative communities, while highlighting entrepreneurial creativity, local manufacturing and more sustainable forms of production.
Community participation and diverse cultural narratives will also be central, including the integration of Sámi cultural practices and crafts as part of a dialogic and culturally sensitive exhibition environment.
Key themes
The CRAFT-IT4SD Final Exhibition will explore a range of themes connected to craft, sustainability, technology and the future of the cultural and creative sectors:
Craft, living heritage and resilient futures The programme will reflect on the role of craft and living heritage in shaping more resilient and sustainable futures, including community-based and cultural perspectives.
Innovation between craft and technology Participants will be invited to explore how digital tools, XR, 3D processes, data visualisation, digital fashion and storytelling can open new possibilities for craft-based innovation.
Skills and learning communities The exhibition will look at how heritage skills, learning communities and cross-disciplinary collaboration can support the future of the cultural and creative industries.
Biomaterials and sustainable design Hands-on activities will address biomaterials, sustainable design approaches and new ways of working with materials in creative practice.
Eco-design, repair and textile innovation The programme will include practical explorations around eco-design, gamification, textile innovation, printing technologies, clothing stories and repair practices.
Business models for sustainability The exhibition will address how sustainable business models, local creative ecosystems and new forms of collaboration can support long-term transformation in the sector.
Registration
Registration for the CRAFT-IT4SD Final Exhibition is available through the official event page.
Secure your place and join them in Oulu from 27–29 October 2026 for three days of exhibition experiences, workshops, conversations and exchanges around craft, sustainability and digital innovation.