Design collaboration strengthens female artisans in Morocco
With design as the focal point, in recent years the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design has established a close working relationship with a number of female artisans in Morocco and Tunisia. Since 2008, every year a team of design students have taken part in the project, which, through education and cultural exchange, aims at helping local female artisans to create new opportunities and a better life for themselves and their communities.
Collaboration since 2008
Since 2008, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design has been involved in the development project in Morocco, in close collaboration with a group of female artisans in Marrakech. 2012 saw the establishment of a similar partnership project in Tunisia, with women from Menzel Bourguiba, a small town in northern Tunisia.
In August 2014, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design and Kvinfo hosted three events, in which Moroccan and Tunisian craftswomen from the projects were invited to tour Denmark to share their experiences from the project collaboration and their craft techniques with Danish women.
Empowerment through design
The overall objective of the projects is to use design to empower the women. This is achieved through discussion and exchange between Danish design students and artisans. Through joint activities and design teaching, the craftswomen acquire tools to develop themselves and their craft production, thus obtaining new roles and opportunities in their local context.
The projects are part of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' The Arabian Initiative and are supported by KVINFO
