A new strategic project by the ASTRA Museum Sibiu, investing in the human resource represented by Romanian craftspeople and artisans, has received funding from the European Commission. The pilot project focuses on the Sibiu community that embroiders the famous “Ie de Mărginimea Sibiului” — the traditional blouse of the Mărginimea Sibiului area.
The ASTRA Museum team, together with specialists from the University of Florence — “Fondazione per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione” — and the cultural NGO “ARS MONUMENTUM NATURA”, launched a project in October, won and funded through the Erasmus+ Programme, to prepare the implementation — for the first time in Romania — of the European system of Geographical Indications (GI) for cultural products. The main objective is one that is both urgent and concrete for the Sibiu community: international legal protection for the “Ie de Mărginimea Sibiului”. Procedures will thus finally be initiated for a dedicated Geographical Indication scheme for the Mărginimea Sibiului ethnographic area, which covers 18 villages.
How do you preserve, protect, and even make traditional craftsmanship profitable?
The new project aims to significantly support the local community, to convince skilled individuals to continue their craft, and to encourage them that they can make a living from their trades. Furthermore, active craftspeople will be urged to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.
Protection against copying = a marketable authentic product
Furthermore, the project will lay the groundwork for an intellectual property protection scheme (of the Geographical Indication type) for the well-known “Ie de Mărginimea Sibiului” — a system that grants it European legal protection against copying. The authentic Ie would thus become an economically viable product on international markets. It is worth noting that Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on Geographical Indications (GI) must be transposed into national legislation by the end of this year.
Development through culture!
The project partners have already begun consultations with the local community in Mărginimea Sibiului, alongside the preparation of practical workshops for the development of new entrepreneurial skills. The project will showcase best practice examples identified at European level, including business models that support traditional communities in the field of cultural heritage.
The official name of the project:
EN: „Supporting Craftspersons to develop new Skills and Competences following the implementation of the Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on Geographical indications (GIs)”
RO: „Sprijinirea meșteșugarilor în dezvoltarea de noi abilități și competențe în contextul implementării Regulamentului (UE) 2023/2411 privind Indicațiile Geografice (IG)”
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
