Presentation of the Department of Estonian Native Crafts in Viljandi Culture Academy of the University of Tartu. In addition their Handmade Wellbeing project experiences in Estonia. Presented by Helen Kästik in the Handmade Wellbeing seminar at the University of Helsinki on April 26, 2017.

1. Ave Matsin
Department of Estonian
Native Crafts
Helen Kästik
Coordinator of International Projects

2. • Estonian
native textile
• Estonian
native
construction
Department of Estonian Native Crafts
• Estonian
native
metallwork
Native Crafts study
programmes: BA and MA

3. The mission of the Department of Estonian Native Crafts
is to represent the local and native traditions and values
that strengthen the sense of identity. This is done by
integrating traditional craft techniques into contemporary
functional milieu.

4. MUHU island

19. Strenghts:
• confident and well-informed use of native
symbols and patterns
• curiosity to reavel and rediscover old
techniques
• innovation and flexibility

20. Handmade Wellbeing:
our local partners
Two care homes located in rural areas:
* Viiratsi with 68 residents, 1/3 lay in beds;
1/3 living with dementia. Activities:
newspaper reading, chair dance, exercises,
sporting day, colouring pictures.
* Nõo 47 residents, 1/3 lay in beds.
Activities: decorative cards, paperflowers,
clay modelling, painting on glass.

21. Handmade Wellbeing:
our local partners
• Two day activity centres for older adults in
* Viljandi: altogether 160 participants,
aged 50–90 (most active age group 60–
80).
* Tartu: aged 63-98 (most active: 75-80)
• Activities include physical, educational and
creative pursuits. Handicraft groups are
the biggest ones.

22. Workshops: between
September and December 2016
• Quota of participants
• Staff-to-participant ratio was high: max 1
to 10
• Participants: mostly women and mostly
from handicraft groups

23. Expectations
• To produce something useful, result-
centred. Keep the items
• Something the settings could continue
doing
• To learn something new

24. Textile printing: using special
stamps and woodblocks

25. Leaf printing

26. Monotype

27. Plaitted keyholders

28. Badges

30. Metal work

32. Thank you!