PARTNERSHIP

The Cologni Foundation for the Métiers d’Art is a private non-profit organisation established in Milan by Franco Cologni, its President, in 1995.

The Cologni Foundation’s founding purpose is to accomplish a “new Renaissance” of the artistic crafts and rescue the métiers d’art from the threat of extinction. Its initiatives are chiefly addressed to the young and to the training of the next generations of artisans. The Cologni Foundation promotes, supports and carries out a number of cultural, scientific and educational programmes.

We have traveled throughout Italy to bring connoisseurs everywhere wonderful handmade products crafted by exceptional artisans.

Explore the varied worlds of home décor, jewelry and fine art as they change in character from region to region, and observe each artisan in his workshop as he describes his process and worldview.

From Venice to the Amalfi coast, from Florence to Milan experience the history of ancient traditions through the passionate eyes of our creators and delight in their talent, genius and flair.

Wellmade is a digital platform that allows you to discover the very best Italian craftsmen, get to know their work and assess the quality of their bespoke products and services.

Discovery leads to sharing; appraising enhances reassessment: Wellmade is a community of crafts lovers and experts, who love all that is “beautiful and well made”, within a gratifying, culturally advanced, experience with social networks.

It aims at promoting a shared quality culture, and bringing together the different businesses that are daily engaged in enhancing and supporting high-end craftsmanship.

The aim of this biennial initiative is to institute the independent title of Maestro d’Arte, in acknowledgement of the excellence of the country’s artisans and in compensation for the Italian system’s deficiency in commendation. The MAM sustains, promotes and celebrates the extraordinary work of outstanding craftspeople by bringing them to the attention of the general public and the media.

The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship is an international non-profit organisation that celebrates and preserves master craftsmanship and strengthens its connection to the world of design. We want to help people rediscover the ability of the human hand to create, and support those doing it best: the exceptional contemporary European master artisans using long-held traditions, skills and knowledge to make beautiful objects of lasting value. We are named after a beacon in this field, Michelangelo, a visionary artist and master artisan who embodied both creativity and craftsmanship at the very highest level of excellence.

The new Homo Faber Guide, a vade mecum that will help you to explore and get to know the centres of craft excellence in Italy and Europe directly, is now available online. With the Homo Faber Guide the best of the crafts in Europe is just a click away.

A truly unique opportunity to discover excellence and beauty through the most highly skilled artisans, new talents, exhibitions, museums and workshops of the entire continent.

The project has been developed through a collaboration with the international network of partners of the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, including the Fondazione Cologni, which have contributed their local knowledge and recommend, appraise and promote the people and organizations presented in the guide.

Galleria dell’Artigianato- Craft Gallery is a project promoted by Tuscany Region and organized by Artex. The goal of this project is to achieve greater visibility for Tuscan artistic works – unique pieces and/or very restricted series, even numbered series – of the highest quality and of great value. All the collections are the result of very careful selection by a committee of experts.

Artour was born from the desire to promote Tuscan handicraft itineraries off the beaten track and suggest to the visitor alternative routes to the classic itineraries, which have already been widely tested. Our goal is to develop a completely different cultural tourism, more sensitive to the artisan traditions of the territory, not only to the artistic and monumental heritage.

We have been crafting premium quality luxury shoes since 1946 following the same values handed down through three generations. All our products are the result of a perfect combination of tradition and modern innovation.