Bridging Traditions: How an International Artist-in-Residence Exchange Ignited Cross-Cultural Craft Learning and Creative Sharing

Abstract

The global network of UNESCO Creative Cities of Crafts and Folk-Art functions not
merely as a registry of heritage, but as a living laboratory for international collaboration,
knowledge transfer, and mutual artistic enrichment. A shining testament to this active
partnership unfolded between February 12 and 23, 2026, when the ancient ceramic capitals
of Kanazawa, Japan, and Sukhothai, Thailand, joined forces to host a dynamic cross-cultural
learning and sharing initiative.
Centering on an immersive Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program and an
accompanying academic short course, this bilateral exchange showcased how traditional
craft practices and contemporary sustainable methodologies can expand the horizons of
modern artisans.