Call for Papers: Traditiones Special Issue (2027)

Traditiones has announced a call for papers for a new thematic issue titled “Rokodelstvo v kontekstu / Contextualizing Handicrafts”. The recent increase in European and national projects supporting craft development has brought handicraft practices back to the forefront, often as a lever for regional development, rural revitalization, and the strengthening of small economies. While traditionally studied in ethnology as part of traditional culture, these practices now enter new political, economic, symbolic, and analytical regimes, becoming subjects of tenders, development strategies, heritage programs, tourism experiences, and environmental expectations.

This special issue invites authors to submit empirical, theoretical, or methodological contributions that treat handicrafts as work, skill, and social practice. Submissions may explore these themes within workshops, institutions, markets, and public, local, or digital environments.

The call invites proposals that explore the following areas:

• Historical contexts of studying handicrafts in ethnology and cultural anthropology, including folk art, work processes, and tools.
• Contemporary categorizations of handicrafts, such as heritage, creative industry, art, and entrepreneurship.
• Development potentials encompassing cultural, economic, environmental, and gender policies, circular economy, women’s work, tourism, and regional development.
• Valuation regimes including quality, authorship, authenticity, branding, and certification.
• Institutional frameworks involving museums, schools, registers, tenders, and UNESCO.