The art trades: meanind and perspective

Abstract

Art trades represent a part of the world of art neither clearly defined nor greatly appreciated. During last years, specifically this piece of Culture has adopted a new perspective, becoming an interesting and productive field of investigation and acquiring great value among those skilled in the Cultural Heritage. Art trades are an important and outstanding cultural reference, not only because they contribute to local improvement, creating new jobs and aiding to the economic development of regions, but also because Art trades help maintaining territorial culture alive, due to their role as promoters of the “endogenous potential”. The term Art Trades covers all those quality artistic activities and productions which cannot be regarded neither as “Art” nor as “Crafts”. The disappearance of most masters and specialists in many of these trades entails that survival of a large part of our traditions is no longer guaranteed, as in the old days, by the simple transmission of knowledge carried out in workshops. Art Trades must therefore be aided by means of a program for stimulating new investments, incorporating innovative resources and providing better training resources for the creation of a new generation of craftsmen.