ALPINE WORKSHOP.
THE ARTISANS.
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From 18 October 2019 to 27 September 2020, the Swiss Alpine Museum in Berne will be transformed into a workshop. Artisans from the mountain regions will work in the main new exhibition, showing what it means to make a living from craftsmanship today. Close to the real world, far away from romanticism and nostalgia.
Alpine craftsmanship is valued. Especially by urban-dwellers who often feel nostalgic about lasting, “real” materials and work processes.
But how is it possible make a living from craftsmanship in a digital, global world? From clothes, cheese, skis, shoes or wood shingles? In addition, in peripheral Alpine regions accessibility, connectedness and in particular the recruitment of specialists presents a much bigger challenge than in urban centres. How does innovation work; how can craftsmanship promote regional development and thus offer young people prospects?
Artisans
To answer all these fascinating questions, the Swiss Alpine Museum has invited artisans from across the entire Alpine range to the exhibition to gain important insight into their daily work. We are proud to be part of this fascinating project. What unites us all is our ability to combine tradition, knowledge and our passion for craftsmanship with the latest technology and lean work processes in order to remain competitive in the marketplace.
Caption: The protagonists. (Thomas von Rickenbach, 2nd from left)
SWITZERLAND, THE ARTISAN COUNTRY AND ALPINE CRAFTSMANSHIP
In Switzerland, mountainous regions cover over three-quarters of the total surface area. A third of the Swiss population lives there. The mountain region provides 30 percent of all jobs. Throughout Switzerland, 10% of all jobholders work in artisanal professions. When analysing the Alpine region from an economic and geographical point of view, industry and commerce are often overlooked. But industry and commerce are in no way contradictory to Alpine life. Many industrial and commercial companies, including in traditional trades, have invested and developed significantly on a technical level over the last few years. Small, agile and extremely flexible artisan companies also benefit from the advantages of digitalisation. They specialise in customer-specific products and services which are in demand among regional and, increasingly, among global customers.
COME CLOSER, WATCH, ASK
The main new exhibition at the Swiss Alpine Museum will feature makers of violins, cheese, skis and wood shingles, a weaver and ourselves, carpenters and specialists in solid wood processing.
Over several days a week, you will gain “live” glimpses of the daily work of each company in the guest workshop, based on sound and images. The “Alpine Workshop” takes you through all the relevant stages involved in creating an artisanal product: from the raw materials store to the workbench and on to the packaging and sales processes. Visitors can try their hand at wood shingle making in the shingle workshop, for example. Together they will add wood shingles to part of the Alpine Museum during the exhibition. Children too can fasten on a tool belt and hammer, saw, package and label their own creation. The exhibition is accompanied by a broad programme of events.
For more information on the exhibition and the event programme, click here.
Caption: In the wood shingle workshop, visitors can do the work themselves
Photo credit: Nicole Hametner
I can highly recommend this exhibition in Berne. It is worthwhile visiting the Federal capital and gaining special insight into the Alpine artisanal crafts. Look over our shoulders as we create unique products and share our passion for solid wood. We would be delighted to meet you during your visit to the “Alpine Workshop” exhibition.
“Alpine Workshop” exhibition from 18 October 2019 to 27 September 2020
Swiss Alpine Museum
Helvetiaplatz 4
3005 Berne
