Frequently Asked Questions about CrAFt and its Core Group of Students 

What is CrAFt?

CrAFt – Creating Actionable Futures is a three-year project (2022-2025) financed by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. The project is a bridge between the EU Mission Board on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and the New European Bauhaus.

The project supports cities to not only become climate-neutral, but —in the spirit of the New European Bauhaus— also inclusive, beautiful and sustainable at the same time. To achieve this, we are bringing together key stakeholders such as policy makers, local and regional authorities and city developers with property owners and tenants, the cultural and creative sectors and higher arts education institutions to jointly shape the transition to climate neutrality.

CrAFt’s three Sandbox Cities —Amsterdam, Bologna and Prague— and 70+ additional CrAFt Cities and city clusters will engage in testing local collaborative governance models and sharing knowledge among them to achieve the ambitious goal to become climate-neutral by 2030.

Keywords: Beautiful, inclusive, sustainable, city transitions, change-making, participatory and collaborative models.

What is the Core Group of Students? 

The Core Group is a driving-force of up to ten international, multidisciplinary students based in Amsterdam, Bologna, Prague and Trondheim. This group is responsible for creating tools and opportunities for exchange and change-making. Across Europe, they are the link between student communities and CrAFt stakeholders, such as project partners, universities and city representatives. 

They meet online on a weekly basis, and occasionally also in person. They self-organise their work and collaboration processes. They are supported by two coaches, and encouraged to experiment with different design and co-creation processes. 

As the Core Group’s is an integrated part of the CrAFt project, its thematic focus overlaps with the project’s. It includes: 

• Exploring how to achieve tangible ‘green’ practices within the city space, such as sustainable infrastructure; and
• Looking at societal and political consciousness, as well as arts and culture, as essential aspects in the transition towards climate-neutral and inclusive cities. 

Keywords: Interdisciplinary, international, student-driven, reference group, connector, leading force in student engagement.

How is the CrAFt Core Group composed? 

The CrAFt project partners select a group of (up to) ten Bachelors, Masters, or pre-Masters students to be part of the Core Group through an open call. Participation in the Group is for a minimum of 6 months, and a maximum of 2 years, therefore there will be multiple open calls during the project (2022-2025).

Students from the following institutions are eligible:  

• In Amsterdam: Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences – AUAS, Amsterdam University of the Arts – AHK, Gerrit Rietveld Academie
• In Bologna: University of Bologna – UNIBO
• In Prague: Czech Technical University in Prague – CVUT, Academy of Fine Arts in Prague – AVU, Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague – UMPRUM, Academy of Performing Arts in Prague – HAMU, Charles University
• In Trondheim: Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU

What have previous Core Groups of Students done in the past?

Core Group 1 was formed on January 1, 2023, and consisted of 8 students from universities in Prague, Bologna, Trondheim and Amsterdam. Under the guidance of 2 coaches from the ELIA team, they created the structure and the way the Craft Core group works. However, each group optimises the established ways dynamically in the sense of continuous improvement.

The first Core Group of students organised an interdisciplinary student event called CrAFt Your Urban Experience. It was held on the 9th of May 2023 in Évora, Portugal, at the School of the Arts of the University of Évora. The Core Group of Students also participated in the project’s event CrAFting Cities Together in Bologna. They contributed to brainstorms and interactive exercises in collaboration with project partners and city stakeholders. This group was active until October 2023. 

Core Group 2 was operational between October 2023-March 2024. In total 6 new members joined, while 2 students from the first group remained. This second group organised two events: UniCity 2030 in Manchester on 18 October 2023 and (re)growing the City Think/Do Tank in Amsterdam on 29 February 2024. They also participated CrAFt’s event CrAFting Tomorrow’s Cities in Amsterdam. They also launched a Core Group Instagram page.

Core Group 3 started in March 2024 and is working on many exciting projects, including a toolbox on how to organise think/do tanks, writing student stories for CrAFt’s Storytelling Campaign. You can already read the student stories. Stay tuned for more!

Where can I find more information about the Core Group? 

The basic governance structure and management plan for student engagement in the CrAFt project, including for the Core Group of students, can be found in two documents: 

• Model of Governance for Next Generation CrAFt Think/Do Tank of Students
• STEAM Teams Management Plan 
• Core Group of Students Instagram page
• You can also read student stories in CrAFt’s stories database.

I have more questions, who can I contact? 

If you have specific inquiries or would like additional information not included in the FAQ feel free to contact the CrAFt team: contact@craft-cities.eu, or the Core Group coach: irene.garofalo@elia-artschools.org