Logo of the Capital of Culture 2025

European Arts and Crafts Days

European makers united

A person operates a lathe in a room at night, working on a globe that emits light and sparkles. A window reveals a crescent moon and stars in the sky. The scene is illustrated in purple and cream tones.
A person operates a lathe in a room at night, working on a globe that emits light and sparkles. A window reveals a crescent moon and stars in the sky. The scene is illustrated in purple and cream tones.
Cr: Mathilde Schliebe

During the European Artistic Crafts Days (ETAK), artisans in 21 European countries opened their workshops and studios to visitors of all ages on the first weekend in April each year. There was also plenty to marvel at in Saxony and, of course, in Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture 2025. Artistic trends and regional specialities were waiting to be discovered, creative minds allowed visitors to look over their shoulders as they worked, and artisans engaged in conversation during workshops. Whether it was a woodcarver, a fine leatherworker or a goldsmith – there was something to discover everywhere! Especially in 2025: an overarching European kick-off event in Chemnitz, not only as a gathering point for various trades from the regions, but also as the festive start of the EUROPEAN DAYS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, invited visitors on a European journey of discovery in the Capital of Culture region.

The organisers were Die Sächsischen Handwerkskammern.

European Capital of Culture The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media Free State of Saxony European Capital of Culture

This project is cofinanced by tax funds on the basis of the parliamentary budget of the state of Saxony and by federal funds from the Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media), as well as funds from the City of Chemnitz.