Filigree beyond Craft
Project Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to contribute to the preservation of filigree craft by documenting, promoting and transferring knowledge and skills to women and youth of different ethnicities from the Prizren region (six municipalities) leading to an increased employability. The project specifically targets the Filigran Enterprise in Prizren in order to develop it into a sustainable entity that provides education, maintains craft and production and improves its market indicators.
Project Objectives and Related Results:
Objective 1 - To transfer knowledge and skills of filigree craft to women and young people of different ethnicities from the Prizren region through education and capacity building programs
Objective 2 - Document and promote filigree craft as an intangible cultural heritage asset on the verge of extinction
Objective 3 - Develop a strategic management framework aimed at transforming Filigree into a sustainable enterprise.
Project activities:
Filigree training workshops
Two training workshops will be held, each with duration of two months and will welcome fifteen participants (women and young people of different ethnicities from the Prizren region). A total of 30 participants divided into two groups (two training workshops) will gain relevant knowledge and skills in filigree craft under the mentorship of five filigree experts in the premises of Filigran enterprise in Prizren.
Participants will go through eight weeks of education and skills development during which they will learn the basics of the craft and the final week will serve as a presentation of work, submission and certification. At least five of the most talented in both groups (participants of the two training workshops) will be offered an additional 6-month internship and will receive modest rewards.
Internship Program
Five of the most talented and successful participants out of a total of 30 will be carefully selected and will be offered a six-month internship at Filigrani Enterprises. They will be offered a six-month paycheck as a strong incentive for regular full-time employment in the respective craft companies.
Developing the strategic framework
The project will produce two strategic development documents for Filigrani Enterprise in Prizren: Management Plan and Branding Strategy and Filigrani Schools Curriculum. Both documents will create a strategic environment for the transformation of the Filigrani Enterprise in Prizren into a sustainable, adaptable unit capable of expanding into new markets.
Web-Platform Filigran-pz.com
The web platform dedicated to Filigree enterprise will be updated with information about filigree craft, its importance and working techniques. The staff of Filigran Enterprise will be trained to maintain and update the web site, as well as to transfer and post its content on the enterprise social media platforms with an emphasis on marketing their products.
Documentary on Filigree
The project envisages the production of a filigree video material that will document the craft, providing relevant details on the filigree. The footage will be accompanied by a professional broadcast, while the documentary will be distributed through social media channels. The video will be part of the official documentation and inventory process of filigree craft, an intangible cultural heritage asset.
Filigree fair
A number of filigree craftsmen from Kosovo will be invited to exhibit and perform with their work during the Fair, which will have three main parts: exhibition, workshop and artistic program. Two dedicated spaces will be prepared for the purpose of displaying filigree and performing handicrafts for visitors. The artistic program of the Fair will provide space for other forms of cultural heritage and intangible heritage (mainly dance and music). Special attention during the project period will be given to the Fair, a traditional cultural event in Prizren, which will be organized annually.