Of Interest: European Crafts Alliance Annual Conference – Crafting Wellbeing – Online and In-person

Poster for the ECA Annual Conference 2026 titled 'Crafting Wellbeing', featuring details about the event, including date, time, and location in Florence, Italy, and online.

The European Crafts Alliance (ECA) is holding its annual conference on Thursday, the 30th of April. In addition to being an in-person event in Florence, Italy, access to the conference is also available online.

Across Europe, craft is expanding beyond the workshop and into public health and community care. Co-organised by Artex and presented in collaboration with Firenze Fiera, during the 90th anniversary of the MIDA International Handicraft Exhibition in Florence, Italy, this year, the conference will explore how making actually works in clinical rehabilitation, mental health, and social inclusion. For the craft sector, these aren’t just social goals; they represent new professional pathways and a way to connect the workshop with the public health sector.

A central highlight of the programme is the premiere of the ECA’s foundational study on Crafting Health and Wellbeing. Alongside this vital data, attendees will hear from practitioners who are successfully integrating traditional crafts into professional recovery programmes, creating new pathways for makers.

Participation is free and open to the public.

Time: 9:30 AM (in person in Italy) & 9 AM IST (online)

For more information and to register, visit the ECA’s website – https://europeancraftsalliance.org/eca-annual-conference-2026-crafting-wellbeing/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

2 Open Calls: On Creativity and Wellbeing – 1 for Artists and Makers & 1 for Researchers and Facilitators

Graphic promoting an open call by Innlyte, featuring the words 'open call' in bold yellow typography on a dark green background.

InnLyte, a digital platform focused on creative wellbeing, has two Open Calls.

For Artists/Makers

The first Open Call is for artists/makers; InnLyte is currently booking for Season 2 for short documentary films.

To view the Studio Series interviews from Season 1, visit here on their website – https://innlyte.com/category/studio-series/

To apply to be part of their second season, visit here on their website – https://innlyte.com/open-call/

For Researchers/Facilitators

The second Open Call is for the InnLyte Creative Wellbeing Podcast, which will launch later this year. It is seeking researchers and facilitators to serve as guest speakers. They are “looking for unique reflections, evidence-based insights, and powerful stories on how the act of hands-on creative expression supports human flourishing.”

More information and the application can be found here – https://innlyte.com/call-for-experts-the-innlyte-creative-wellbeing-podcast/

Their Instagram @innlyte


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Creating with Wool – Kerry Mental Health & Wellbeing Fest

Creating with Wool - Kerry Mental Health & Wellbeing Fest

The Wise Wool Project and The Nature Hub invite the public to spend the afternoon outdoors, creating with wool. As part of the Wise Wool Project, this event combines creativity with wellbeing to highlight the value of Irish wool.

Held between Saturday, 4th – 11th October 2025, the Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest aims to raise awareness of the available supports and services in the county, as well as empower people to engage with the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ through offering a dynamic and interactive programme of events.

When: The Workshop is on Tuesday, the 7th of October, 1-2:30 PM

Where: The Nature Hub at the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Co Kerry.

For more information, and to register, visit this website – https://kerrymentalhealthandwellbeingfest.com/fest-event/5153-creating-with-wool

Instagram: @wise_wool_project

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Open Call: InnLyte Studio Series – Short Documentary Videos about Wellness and Creativity

Open Call -artists and makers across Ireland - link between creativity and wellbeing.

Visual artists or makers based in Ireland, with a physical studio space, and who have experienced how creativity can support their wellbeing or mental health, are invited to participate in the InnLyte Studio Series of short documentary videos.

The InnLyte Studio Series focuses on visual artists and makers who work with materials like paint, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, mixed media, or any other tactile, visual art forms.

This is an independent and self-funded project by Dee Stopa.

There’s no payment, but selected artists will receive professional photographs and be part of a meaningful conversation.

This open call is ongoing.

Previous documentaries about artists can be watched on YouTube, here – https://www.youtube.com/@InnLyte/videos

For more information, visit this website – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0eHT1xt6Rf8J3F2f8IH8P4HjSlRBttkPMcgWPugDs8mYGnQ/viewform

Their Instagram – @innlyte

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Open Call: European Wool Day 2025 – 6th of April -Rome, Italy

European Wool Day is an event dedicated to celebrating wool’s versatile and sustainable benefits, a natural fibre with a rich heritage and an important role in our future. The event has a particular focus on wool’s therapeutic and health-related uses.​​​

​Applications are now open for wool producers, health professionals, and sustainability advocates to share their woollen stories contributing to our health and the planet’s health at the 5th European Wool Day.

There are three ways to participate:

-Presenting in person on 6th April from Rome, Italy
-Presenting live joining online on 6th April
-Contributing with a pre-recorded presentation.

The deadline for applications is the 16th of February, 2025.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.ewe.network/european-wool-day-2025

Their Instagram – ewe_foundation__

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.