The national production platform SPOK and the Stockholm Crafts Association, Hantverkarna Stockholm, have joined forces in a project that highlights the value of handicraft. The aim is to promote collaboration between designers and craftspeople, foster mutual understanding of each other’s expertise, and develop concepts or physical objects that represent both skillsets and expressions.
– By strengthening local production throughout Sweden, SPOK aims to contribute to more locally sourced and sustainable consumption, says Anna Gudmundsdottir, project manager at SPOK, Form/Design Center. SPOK has played a key role in connecting and empowering designers across our regional network. We see this project as a step toward establishing a regional hub for SPOK in Stockholm.
– We are very excited about this collaboration, says Li Pamp, CEO of Hantverkarna Stockholm. In a world where consumers are increasingly disconnected from how things are made, understanding the value of craftsmanship becomes even more important. This project shines a light on craft through new perspectives and to a broader audience.
Through an open call, six designers from the Stockholm region were selected and paired with craftspeople from Hantverkarna Stockholm. Participants include designers, architects, and artists — among them internationally acclaimed names such as Claesson Koivisto Rune, Thomas Sandell, and Matti Klenell. With support from the National Handicraft Council, the collaborative process is now underway, with the participants exploring new perspectives on form, material, and process.
– The response to the open call was overwhelming, with a record number of applications, says Siri Skillgate, project manager for the matchmaking initiative 'SPOK x Hantverkarna Stockholm'. The quality was exceptionally high, and even though the jury process was tough, we’re thrilled with the six exciting teams we've brought together. We can’t wait to see what they create together!
The results of the collaborations will be presented in a group exhibition during Stockholm Craft Week, Sweden’s largest event for contemporary craft. The exhibition takes place October 1–5 at Hantverkarna’s venue on Sibyllegatan 19 in Stockholm.
