Stowarzyszenie Serfenta

The Serfenta Association exists so that basketry could live. Our work is meant to preserve the tradition and knowledge passed on from generation to generation. We travel to distant places to learn everything about basketry. We teach young people to become experts in a dying skill. We help master basket makers get into the market. We show this beautiful craft to the whole world. The Serfenta Association has been operating since 2006. The Serfenta Association is a leading institution in the field of basketry studies in Poland. It is an UNESCO accredited organization in the field of intangible cultural heritage. Our portfolio includes “Folk Oscar” for the project “On the basketry trail of Poland”, diploma from Polish Kukbuk magazine for activities in the sphere of handicraft and Polish UNESCO Committee diploma for the educational activities. Our actions are directed towards children, young people, adults and seniors. Since 2008 we have concentrated on saving and promoting basketmaking as a unique cultural heritage – both in and outside Poland. We published a popular-scientific book "Weaving way of Vistula" - a collection of anthropological reports, based on our ethnographic research in Poland. There are also documentary films, few photography exhibitions: "Let it weave!", „Viva Basket!” and „We weave!”, instructional videos "Weave it yourself" and digital publication "Viva Basket! - Why do we weave?". We organize basket weaving shows and weaving classes. One part of our activities are workshops in the field of traditional and artistic basketry. We also arrange conferences where we bring together the scientific world with artists and professionals. In August 2014 we organized an international conference "Viva Basket!" which encompassed the most important cultural heritage weaving initiatives from all over the world. Serfenta also takes part in outdoor art events which are connected to basketry. For example during The Outdoor of Living Willow Figures on the Polish coast we created a willow arbour called the "Druid’s Temple" and during the Car Free Day a big willow bike. In August 2014 we organized an artistic outdoor weaving „On the border" in Cieszyn. Since the ratification of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011, Serfenta Association has actively participated in its implementation, taking part in thematic workshops and debates organised by the National Heritage Board of Poland. Together with the representatives of local basketry community in Lucimia, central Poland, we prepared the inscription of this craft on a national list of intangible heritage. The association work also to improve the economic situation of basketmakers. We are selling their products and skills. We are organizing multi-day workshops for small groups of basketry enthusiasts from abroad, during which participants will be able to meet local culture and gain skills directly from master craftsmen. Our goals involve: - Practical protection of folk crafts - Improvement of the economic situation of folk artists - Revival of the environment centred around the craft: manufacturers, scientists, artists as well as providing a platform for future cooperation - Increased interest of local communities and authorities in the field of crafts - Opening up new prospects for promotion of crafts