Highlighting craft skills and expertise

As a founder member of the Circle of Patrons at Sèvres-Cité de la Céramique (established in 2011), the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has supported Les Petits Dégourdis de Sèvres for the past two years. The project combines creative contemporary art with the transmission of exceptional artisan skills.

Reflecting its commitment to promote exceptional artisan skills, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès is supporting the restoration and return to permanent display of outstanding objects in the collections of the Musée des Arts et Métiers.

Japan and France are the guardians of an invaluable paper-making heritage that demands to be preserved and handed down. A new five-year project will study and compare these parallel traditions, and draw up a glossary to support mutual understanding, knowledge-sharing and exchange.

The Etienne Vatelot competition organized by City of Paris's is an international award aimed at perpetuating craft skills, promoting training for young makers of stringed instruments and bows, and encouraging tomorrow's artisans. The first competition in 2004 attracted 280 instruments and bows from 38 countries.

The Fondation d’entreprise Hermès and Sèvres-Cité de la Céramique – both committed to promoting and preserving artisan skills and expertise – are launching a joint initiative to explore the artisanship of the future, through a workshop on Savoir-Faire et Modernité, organised with two leading academic institutions: Sciences Po Paris and Ensci-Les Ateliers.

Reflecting its vocation to promote expert craft skills, the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès is working with the Petit Palais and the Arts Décoratifs (France's national school and museum of the decorative arts) to restore the works of Jean-Louis Forain, for a spring 2011 exhibition in Paris.

Paris's Musée du Quai Branly presents an exhibition of art and craftwork by India's adivasi peoples.

Worshipped, feared or misunderstood, animals embody every nuance of good and evil. An exhibition at the Arts Décoratifs (Galerie d'Études) explores this rich source of inspiration for artisans throughout history.

Film-maker Marc Petitjean presents an introduction to the art of kimono painting through the work of Japanese ‘living treasure’ Kunihiko Moriguchi. Shot while ‘embedded’ with the artist and his family, the film explores the concept of the transmission of timeless craft skills.

Jean Marc Tingaud photographs the workspaces and daily environments of people encountered "all over the world". His latest journey, to Japan, immortalizes the daily lives of the country's "Living treasures", revered guardians of a tradition of excellence.

Artists Martine and Jacki Perrin explore the exceptional technical and creative possibilities of glass. A new catalogue presents their work, and the sources of inspiration shaping new directions for the future.

Paris's Musée de la Musique studied and recreated a facsimile version of an Erard piano, in collaboration with a master piano-maker.

Opened in 2008 in Pantin, on Paris's north-eastern rim, the Maison Ravel is a resource centre for skilled artisans.