Our Projects
Project 1.
I. Revitalizing Filligree Traditions
In the beginning...
The president of AKSIOS, Ms. Veneta Iljovska, Art Historian and Archaelogist, implemented the initial stage of the project. She took the initiative to propose a theoretical filigree training to Aid to artisans (ATA, USAID), which was later implemented as part of the program's structure.
The objectives of this program were to:
- Revitalize local traditions
- Encourage the enterpreneurial spirit amongst the participants and facilitate intial market access
- Raise awareness of the public regarding the cultural, creative, and economic value of local artisan skills.
The results were:
- Ten filigree artisans
- A mammoth theoretical and technical program which involved inspired the result of creating technical workshops and an art history orientaton
- Production for export to the U.S. market and more...
Project 2.
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II. Tradition / Innovation - Macedonian Handmade Cultural Identity
The project was focused on increasing interest in cultural heritage :
- Preservation of skills as a resource for innovation and the accessibility of national costumes for renewed use
- Contribute to the sustainability of income-generating opportunities for artisans
- Envision an expansive cultural base for Macedonia on the world market and assist implemention through development and marketing of handcrafted products
- Enagage local Goverment in the cultural and economic development and promotion of these efforts in their communities
NGO Aksios created the theoretical part of the training. Participants had the opportunity to learn about different weaving techniques and history of Macedonian and Albanian traditional dresses ( coordinator for ethnology : Veneta Iljovska)
​Results were:
- Four replicas of male and female traditional dresses from the region of Eastern and Western Macedonia
- 20 product collections: felt hats collection, felt bags collection, felt slippers collection, knitted slippers collection, woven pilows, rugs,woven cotton embroidered shirts and more.
- Product collections were introduced to the international market as part of the Fair Trade Tendence, Frankfurt, Germany and more...
Project 3.
III. The rural architectural heritage in an authentic cultural and natural landscape of R. Macedonia – an investigator of economic development
The reasons AKSIOS started this project:
- Rural architectural heritage in R. Macedonia is currently under great risk because of the excessive urbanization. Demolition of old buildings and construction (expansion) of the new architectural buildings have all contributes for destruction of the landscape. This project focuses not only on the protection and valorisation of rural architectural heritage and authentic cultural and natural landscape, but also on the potential usage of the same in the economic development of Municipalities, Districts, Regions and the Republic in whole as a country.
The objectives of the project are:
- Documentation
- Field analysis
- Mapping
- Recording
- Presentation and promotion of field researches in the municipalities (villages) in the country
The project's results :
- Created a model for defining and promoting guidelines for the sustainable use and management of the rural heritage;
- Create cultural and natural landscape investment opportunities which will contribute for economic development in a specified region
CULTURAL and NATURAL HERITAGE
