MOSAIC

Abstract

Craft teaching and learning are evolving today at an unprecedent pace, driving the need for skills that increasingly fuse tradition with innovation. However, mapping craft skills is complex, due to both the multiplicity of factors determining skill development and the uncertainty surrounding future developments. In this paper, we present the methodological approach designed for the MOSAIC project, an ambitious Erasmus+ that addresses the need for skills in arts and crafts through research, creation of innovative craft training, and the establishment of a craft observatory. Firmly grounded within the field of craft science research, the methodology is rooted in the theory of practice and deploys a participatory process to further explore crafts skill needs. However, to the purpose of this article, we focus on a particular methodological aspect, that is, how we use cultural mapping to explore the complex craft skill ecosystem and analyse the rich data sets collected through a mixed set of instruments. Cultural mapping involves the systematic collection, documentation, and analysis of information about cultural assets – here: craft skills – within specific geographic areas or communities. In MOSAIC, we use cultural mapping as an approach to establishing an analytical continuum between top-down (e.g. legislation) and bottom-up (e.g. industry) approaches to the analysis of skill needs in MOSAIC partner countries. This approach is a good example of a context-appropriate research strategy that reaches beyond the borders of disciplines. As such, it fosters a holistic approach to craft science research that speaks to craft researchers, educators, and policymakers.

Keywords

• craft education
• craft skills
• cultural mapping
• data visualisation