Cultural recognition of violin making in collaboration with museums, through innovative practices involving teachers, students and groups of social exclusion.
The Escuela de Violería de Zaragoza (School of violin making of Zaragoza) was created in the context of defending the cultural importance of a key part of the artistic and cultural heritage of Aragón: the late Gothic and Renaissance violin tradition. Based on this primary objective, very interesting opportunities are opened for the professionalization of the students of the School of violin making of Zaragoza.
This practice is implemented through:
• Interrelating traditional violin makers with researchers, cultural and scientific centers, universities, and museums.
• Developing innovative dissemination tools, such as book publishing, 3D video production, organization of a large exhibition in which historical instruments will be shown, along with re-identification processes with instrumental families of XIV, XV and XVI centuries, from written and iconographic sources.
• Taking advantage of the actions described as training practices of the students of the school, opening new opportunities in search of excellence.
• Involving public administrations at the local, regional, national and European levels, in order to promote the results of the program and raising awareness of cultural importance of crafts and specially of violin making.
• Collaborating with the Spanish Association of Professional Luthiers (AELAP), and with the Association of Craftsmen of Aragon.
• Linking the project to groups of social exclusion, within the Delyramus European project (Creative Europe).
Resources needed
Financial resources provided by Creative Europe, Ministry of Culture of Spain, Daniel y Nina Carasso Foundation, Zaragoza Provincial Council, Zaragoza City Council, Government of Aragon: 40,000 euros.
Own staff from the School of Violin making and staff from the museums and cultural centers.
Evidence of success
The project obtained one of the five best scores within the call for public funding of Innovation and Modernization of Cultural Industries in 2019 organized by the Ministry of Culture of Spain. And it was considered as a good reference project which was presented at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid on 29th of February of 2019.
The response to the initiative of all the entities involved.
Difficulties encountered
Difficulties for getting funds.
Over working for school workers due to the lack of human resources, resolved with a great load of interest and passion.
Potential for learning or transfer
This initiative can be attractive for other craft sectors, as a precedent in the exploration of new opportunities for innovation based on the philosophy of re-identification with cultural legacies linked to countless traditional artisan activities.
The main contribution consists of fusing together tradition with contemporary times, interrelating craftspeople with students of art and culture. In the training of these new makers (they can be of any trade), the historical trajectory of their specific activity should be considered. This substrate can be investigated, preserved and disclosed with any of the current technological tools. Likewise, it can be the basis for the launch of new products to respond to the aspirations of a sensitive client, committed to art and culture. The school is in touch with violin schools and luthiers in Europe and Latin America, to which they already transfer their experience.
Tags: Creative industry, Cultural heritage, Culture, Design, Education, Heritage, Labour market, Training
