CraftWork4All: Two Craft Residencies in Madeira — Craft for Life & ReCrafting Life

Creative journeys that connect craft, art, nature, and wellbeing

We are pleased to announce two creative residencies in Madeira, Portugal, as part of the European project CraftWork4All. These residencies have been designed to support emerging craft artists and makers.

CraftWork4All is a European-wide initiative that brings together 12 different organizations with a common goal: to support the next generation of crafters, develop connections across creative groups, and raise awareness of modern craftsmanship.

Our goal is to rebuild the craft sector by working together, improving our skills, and coming up with new ideas, all while keeping its traditions alive and studying how to make it more sustainable.

Now, this spirit comes alive in Madeira through two residencies hosted by Art Center Caravel and ARThubMadeira

Craft for Life (1 week) and ReCrafting Life (2 weeks) — immersive experiences that invite creators to explore the intersection of art, craft, and wellbeing.

Craft for Life — One Week of Creative Therapy and Connection. November 2026

This weeklong residency at ARThub Madeira invites you to explore the healing and transformative power of handmade creation.Guided by a psychologist and gestalt therapist, the sessions are designed to foster a safe, reflective atmosphere — a space where you can open up your creative potential while also reconnecting with yourself.

Throughout the week, you’ll become part of a team of six crafters, each bringing their own techniques, materials, and stories. You’ll exchange experiences, learn new craft forms — from mosaic and ceramics to collage and eco-craft — and discover how creativity can support emotional balance and wellbeing.

Together, you’ll co-create a digital e-book, blending your craft skills with art therapy insights.This practical handbook will include your shared methods, exercises, and reflections — offering future readers guidance on how to plan, facilitate, and reflect on creative sessions that nurture self-expression, connection, and growth.

Each day combines making and reflection: creating emotional mosaics, grounding in clay, transforming paper into personal journals.The week culminates in the exhibition “Islands 2026”, showcasing artworks that tell stories of resilience, empathy, and slow creation.

ReCrafting Life — Two Weeks of Creative Transformation in Madeira. April 2027

This two-week residency in Madeira invites you to go deeper — to create, reflect, and reconnect through the fusion of craft, ecology, and art therapy.Set in the creative atmosphere of ARThub Madeira, you’ll work side by side with artists, makers, and facilitators who believe that craft can heal, empower, and transform communities.

Throughout the residency, you’ll explore a variety of hands-on techniques — from ceramics, mosaics, and collage to paper upcycling, driftwood art, and sculpture. Guided sessions will help you discover how sustainable materials and mindful making can support emotional wellbeing and environmental awareness.

Together, you’ll take part in eco-action activities — collecting plastics and natural elements along Madeira’s and Porto Santo’s coasts to transform them into a collective upcycled sculpture. Each piece you create will carry a story of renewal, connection, and care for the planet.

As the residency unfolds, you’ll reflect, share, and experiment — blending art therapy tools with sustainable craft practices.The journey culminates in the group exhibition “Islands 2027”, part of the Madeira Whale Fest, where your creations will be presented to the public — celebrating the dialogue between art, ocean, and community.

One Spirit — Two Journeys

Both residencies share one heart — craft as a language of care.Here, you’ll do more than just create beautiful things — you’ll learn how to guide others through creativity.

• Facilitation & Art Therapy SkillsYou’ll discover how to design and lead art therapy sessions safely and mindfully — understanding how to inspire, support, and never harm your future participants. Together with psychologists and facilitators, you’ll learn to read group dynamics, build trust, and use creativity as a tool for connection and healing.

  
  

• Sustainable & Eco-Creative PracticeA big part of your residency will focus on sustainability — exploring how upcycling, natural materials, and mindful making can protect the planet. You’ll work with paper, driftwood, textiles, and recycled materials, giving new life to what others might throw away

  
  

• Learn from the ExpertsSessions take place at Art Center Caravel, where the founders — experienced craft curators and buyers — will share real insider tips on how to succeed as a craft artist: from building your brand to presenting your work professionally.

  
  

• Visibility & RecognitionEvery participant will be able to include the residency in their professional portfolio, adding international experience and visibility.Your artworks will also be featured in the international Craft & Art Exhibition “Islands” in Madeira — an event that brings together creators, collectors, and art lovers from across Europe.

  
  

In short: By joining our residencies, you won’t just gain new craft skills — you’ll grow as a facilitator, eco-conscious artist, and confident professional ready to lead creative experiences that make a difference. Create. Connect. Facilitate. Grow.

Who can apply

• Participating Craft Practitioners from the following countries are welcome to apply except Portugal: - all EU member states - Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Tunisia, and Ukraine, all of which are non-EU member states - the Creative Europe Platform.

• You must join forces with another crafter, and each of you must submit an application using the form, but you must do it independently.

• You can improve your odds by forming multiple couples: Then feel free to fill out the form multiple times.

• The hosting organizations will review your application and make a final selection.

• Rest assured, you will be contacted and provided with all the necessary information when the time comes and if you are chosen. The sending organization will cover your travel expenses.

LEARN ABOUT PORTUGUESE RESIDENCY

APPLY NOW

💬 Doubts? Write to us directly: 📧 artassociationmadeira@gmail.com