Hands Across Generations Project

09/10/2026

🎨 Building Digital Skills for Creative Businesses

On 24–25 September, the Nicosia Tourism Board successfully delivered a two-day workshop on Digital Tools and Social Media for Creative Professionals, as part of the “Eco-Friendly Crafting & Sustainable Entrepreneurship” activity of the project.

📍 Hosted at Gardens of the Future, Nicosia, the workshop provided a space for artists, artisans, content creators and creative professionals to develop their digital skills, exchange ideas and explore new ways to promote their creative work.

💻 Led by trainer Konstantinos Irakleous, the sessions focused on practical digital tools and social media strategies to strengthen online presence, increase visibility and support the growth of creative businesses.

Day 1 – In-person workshop: Participants explored social media content creation, focusing on platforms, storytelling, persuasion and practical visual content creation.

Day 2 – Online continuation: Participants focused on social media strategy and engagement, learning how to plan content that remains authentic, engaging and human.

👏 A warm thank you to Konstantinos for sharing his expertise, Gardens of the Future for hosting the workshop, and to all participants for their active engagement and contribution to the activities.

05/10/2026

🪚 Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship in Rumšiškės

As part of the Erasmus+ project “Hands Across Generations – Preserving Intangible Heritage Through Intergenerational Craft Exchange”, on October 2, two carpentry and joinery apprenticeship workshops took place at the Lithuanian Open-Air Museum in Rumšiškės.

Each workshop brought together one mentor and six mentees from the Kaišiadorys branch of Vilnius School of Utilities. During the practical sessions, the mentees learned traditional carpentry techniques and developed skills in hewing, planing, sawing and chiselling. 🪵

As part of the apprenticeship, the mentees also learned how to assemble and dismantle a granary – a model of a traditional wooden granary structure. Working alongside their mentors, they gained practical experience in assembling traditional wooden structures, learned about the working process and developed a better understanding of traditional carpentry techniques.

Mentors Gintaras and Valentinas shared their practical knowledge and experience, patiently guided the mentees throughout the learning process and helped them develop practical skills in the craft.

We hope that the knowledge and practical experience gained during the workshops will encourage the mentees to continue exploring carpentry and joinery, apply the skills they have learned in practice, and perhaps even inspire some of them to become carpenters and joiners in the future. 🤝🪚

We sincerely thank mentors Gintaras and Valentinas for sharing their knowledge, practical advice, patience and inspiration, and all the mentees for their curiosity, active participation and willingness to learn and gain hands-on experience in traditional carpentry and joinery! 🌿

29/09/2026

🌾 Straw Garden Mentorship in Kaunas, Lithuania

As part of the Erasmus+ project “Hands Across Generations – Preserving Intangible Heritage Through Intergenerational Craft Exchange”, on 28 September, a straw garden mentorship session took place in Kaunas, giving the mentees an opportunity to learn more about this traditional Lithuanian craft and form of cultural heritage.

Our mentor, Jurgita Treinytė, a folk artist and traditional crafts master, shared her knowledge and practical experience in creating straw gardens. 🌾

During the mentorship session, the mentees were introduced to the basic principles of straw garden making, the materials needed, and how they are prepared. The mentor demonstrated how to properly connect the straws, create geometric shapes, and gradually build a complete garden composition from individual elements.

Most of the session was dedicated to hands-on practice – the mentees connected the straws themselves, created their first elements, and learned how to maintain the proportions and proper shape of the structure. 🌿 Mentor Jurgita patiently demonstrated each step, answered questions, and helped the mentees understand the details of this craft, which requires precision and patience.

Straw gardens are not only decorative objects but also an important part of Lithuanian traditional culture, passed down from generation to generation. During this mentorship, the mentees had the opportunity not only to learn a new craft but also to experience a living tradition that continues to be preserved and passed on today. 💛

A heartfelt thank you to Jurgita Treinytė for sharing her knowledge, patience, and inspiration, and to all the mentees for their curiosity, engagement, and willingness to learn and explore this traditional craft! 🌾

24/09/2026

🧵 Intergenerational Learning Through Craftsmanship and Creativity

As part of the Hands Across Generations Project, four parallel craft workshops were successfully implemented by ΚοινΣΕπ Forme Handmade Goods bringing together experienced artisans and young participants in a unique learning experience.

Led by four talented creators from the ForMe network, the workshops introduced participants to traditional craft techniques that connect cultural heritage, sustainability, and creative expression. Through hands-on activities, young people had the opportunity to learn directly from experienced practitioners, highlighting the value of knowledge transfer between generations.

The initiative showcased the power of material reuse, creativity, and intergenerational collaboration, demonstrating how traditional crafts can inspire new forms of expression and sustainable practices.

A heartfelt thank you to all the creators who generously shared their expertise and to all the young participants who joined with enthusiasm, curiosity, and inspiration.

🔶 Patchwork Workshop with Rena Christodoulou
🔶 Appliqué Workshop with Thomai Mitsa Marougianni
🔶 Traditional Rag Rug (Kourelou) Workshop with Natasa Karra
🔶 Decorative Composition with Fabric and Driftwood Workshop with Maria-Theano Ydragogou

Together, we continue building bridges across generations through creativity, craftsmanship, and shared learning.

18/09/2026

🧵 Tablet Weaving Mentorship Continues in Kaunas, Lithuania!

As part of the Erasmus+ project “Hands Across Generations – Preserving Intangible Heritage Through Intergenerational Craft Exchange”, the second tablet weaving mentorship session took place in Kaunas, Lithuania, on September 16.

This time, the mentees deepened their knowledge of tablet-woven band finishing techniques and had the opportunity to try out different finishing methods themselves. They also explored examples of tablet-woven bands preserved in museums, gaining a closer look at traditional finishing techniques and applying what they learned to their own work. 🌿

During the second mentorship session, the mentees continued developing the weaving skills they had gained during the first meeting. They practiced patience, precision and attention to detail, while gradually turning their woven bands into more complete, finished pieces created with their own hands.

Mentor Birutė Račkaitienė, a certified Category A National Heritage craftsperson, continued to share her knowledge and practical advice, helping the students better understand the intricacies of this traditional craft.

We are happy that through hands-on experience, the younger generation can not only discover a traditional craft, but also try it themselves and contribute to keeping this heritage alive. 💛

17/09/2026

Are you an artist, artisan, content creator or professional in the creative and cultural sector, based in Cyprus? 🎨⛏️

Join us for a free 2-day workshop on Social Media & Digital Networks for Craft Visibility and Intergenerational Exchange, organised within the Erasmus+ project HANDS ACROSS GENERATIONS.

The workshop is designed to help creative professionals strengthen their digital skills, online presence and professional visibility through practical tools and examples tailored to the needs of the cultural and creative sector.

📍 24 September 2026 | In person
15:00–18:00
Gardens of the Future, Nicosia, Cyprus

💻 25 September 2026 | Online
15:00–18:00

✨ Participation is free.

Participants will also have the opportunity to be considered for participation in an educational trip abroad, subject to specific criteria and conditions that will be announced at a later stage.

👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/ea6apRca

16/09/2026

Great to see creative businesses gaining valuable skills and confidence through the "Storytelling for Your Business" programme yesterday in Carlow, Ireland.

Delivered by Caroline Busher as part of the Hands Across Generations project, this inspiring workshop is helping artists, makers, craftspeople, and creative entrepreneurs tell their stories more effectively, strengthen their brands, and connect with their audiences.

Participants are learning to:
✨ Communicate their creative business story
✨ Identify their unique strengths and values
✨ Build confidence in promoting their work
✨ Grow their online presence and creative community

📅 Looking forward to the next session which takes place on 22 September.

11/09/2026

🌍 Want to grow your online presence and promote your creative work with confidence?

Join Helen McNulty (Entrepreneurs Academy) for a free online Digital Marketing for the Creative Sector workshop for older adults.

📅 23 September 2026
⏰ 2:00pm - 5:00pm (Irish Time)
💻 Online

Register here 👉 https://consult.carlow.ie/en/content/eu-projects-hand-across-generations-digital-marketing-creative-sector-older-adults-online-workshop

Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme and connecting learners across Europe 🇪🇺

🌍 Hand Across Generations – Digital Marketing for the Creative Sector for Older Adults 📱✨

Want to promote your creative work online with more confidence?

Join Helen McNulty (Entrepreneurs Academy) for this engaging online workshop designed for older adults involved in the creative, cultural, artistic, craft, heritage, tourism, and community sectors.

📅 Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
⏰ 2:00pm – 5:00pm (Irish Time)
💻 Online

No advanced digital marketing experience required.

👉 Register here: https://consult.carlow.ie/en/content/eu-projects-hand-across-generations-digital-marketing-creative-sector-older-adults-online-workshop

Funded through the Erasmus+ Programme and bringing together participants from Ireland, Lithuania, Greece, Italy, Finland, Cyprus, and Spain.

02/09/2026

🤲 7 crafts. 7 stories. Preserving the past, powering the future.

Meet the official mentors from Spain, presented by Espronceda – Institute of Art & Culture, as part of Hands Across Generations, connecting artisans with young people eager to learn their craft, hands-on.

🧺 Montse Roa — Contemporary basketry —
📜 Jordi Torrent / Sastres Paperers — Handmade paper —
🎨 Albert Martí / Mosaics Martí — Hydraulic mosaic (2021 National Craft Award) —
🧩 Marta Eri Rufat / TrencadisBCN — Mosaic & trencadís —
🎨 Clara Lotta Dittmer — Pigment on canvas —
♻️ Marcela Salazar — Sculpture & eco-resin — .sculptor
🏺 Nataliia Basovska — Ceramics —

🇪🇺 Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

27/08/2026

🧵 Tablet Weaving Mentorship in Kaunas, Lithuania

As part of the Erasmus+ project “Hands Across Generations – Preserving Intangible Heritage Through Intergenerational Craft Exchange”, the first tablet weaving mentorship session took place in Kaunas, Lithuania, on 26 August. During the session, mentees were introduced to this traditional weaving technique.

Mentor Birutė Račkaitienė is a certified Category A artisan of National Heritage Products, a tablet weaver, and a dedicated promoter of traditional weaving crafts.

During the first mentorship session, the mentees learned about tablet weaving techniques, how to select the appropriate threads and thread them through the weaving tablets, and had the opportunity to put their new skills into practice by weaving their first tablet-woven band. 🌿

Mentor Birutė gave each mentee individual attention, patiently explained the weaving process, and helped them understand how to turn the tablets correctly, maintain proper thread tension, and create their chosen pattern.

This is only the first stage of the learning process. During the next mentorship session, the mentees will deepen their knowledge of tablet-woven band finishing techniques and practically explore different finishing methods, drawing inspiration from examples of tablet-woven bands preserved in museums. 🧵

Our sincere thanks to Birutė Račkaitienė for sharing her knowledge and expertise, for her patience, and for giving the mentees the opportunity to discover this traditional craft up close. We would also like to thank all the participants for their curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn and try their hand at tablet weaving! 💛