Nordic Craft Week 2026 – Heritage at risk

The Bunadglede («Joy of the traditional costumes») project aims to increase knowledge of the Norwegian bunad, Norway’s traditional regional costume, and inspire young people to engage with folk craft skills. By introducing teenagers and young adults to the craftsmanship, history, and cultural significance of the bunad, the project seeks to strengthen connections to cultural heritage and encourage a new generation of skilled makers and informed users.

Running from April 2025 to April 2027, the project has received substantial funding from the Sparebankstiftelsen DNB foundation, enabling courses, workshops, and events across Norway through the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association’s network of 350 local groups. While the initiative is primarily aimed at young people with little or no previous experience of bunads or traditional crafts, it also offers opportunities for those with more knowledge to explore local traditions in greater depth and discover new aspects of Norway’s rich craft heritage. At its core, Bunadglede seeks to give more young people the opportunity to experience the sense of achievement, confidence, and joy that comes from mastering a traditional craft.

Vulnerable Craft Traditions, Endangered Professions

The bunad has a unique place in Norwegian society. Many young girls receive or inherit one around the age of fifteen, often in connection with their confirmation, an important coming-of-age tradition. Today, bunads are increasingly worn by men as well as women, though boys more often receive theirs later in life. With more than 450 recognised regional variations, the bunad reflects local identities, family connections, and geographical heritage. Although each bunad has distinctive characteristics, many share common materials, techniques, and forms of ornamentation.

Craft professionals who specialise in bunad making develop a broad foundation in traditional sewing, embroidery, textile work, and garment construction in addition to focusing on specific regional traditions. These skills are essential not only for creating new garments but also for maintaining existing ones. Because bunads are designed to last for generations, alterations, repairs, and restoration form an important part of a bunad maker’s work.

Bunad is a living tradition worn and loved by many. At the same time, the future of these craft traditions faces significant challenges. Authentic materials, highly specialised skills, and extensive handcrafting make a traditional bunad a considerable investment. Pressure from mass production, standardisation, imported manufacturing, and the use of cheaper substitute materials risks reducing regional diversity and weakening the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next.

Public debate in Norway often focuses on questions of cost, personalisation, imitation garments, and the role of the bunad in an increasingly diverse and multicultural society. Rather than contributing to polarised discussions, the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association seeks to promote knowledge, curiosity, and practical engagement. Through a nationwide community of more than 25,000 members, supported by local groups, workshops, craft businesses, and skilled artisans, the organisation is uniquely positioned to reach new audiences.

Ultimately, Bunadglede is about ensuring the future of the bunad tradition by fostering curiosity, enthusiasm, knowledge, and practical skills among young people. By connecting a new generation with the craft behind the garment, the project aims to keep both the tradition and the expertise it depends on, alive for years to come.

Focusing on Techniques and Quality

At an early stage, the project’s advisory group made several key decisions. The primary target audience would be beginners, with a particular focus on young people. Given the extraordinary diversity of Norway’s bunad tradition, with hundreds of regional variations across the country, the project chose to focus on teaching techniques rather than specific garments or regional costumes. This approach ensures that the project remains relevant nationwide while also highlighting the shared craftsmanship that underpins many different bunad traditions.

Twelve core techniques were selected for the project. Some represent highly endangered skills mastered by only a small number of practitioners, while others are widely used across multiple bunad traditions and therefore relevant to a broader audience. Six of these techniques were given special priority through the development of dedicated learning materials, workshops, and practical starter kits made available to local groups and the public.

Each learning kit includes a step-by-step guide, background information on the history and cultural context of the technique, and an introduction to the materials involved. Participants also receive the tools and supplies needed to learn the basic skills, along with instruction in related finishing techniques and decorative details. Importantly, the materials used in the kits are the same high-quality materials found in traditional bunad production. These include Norwegian-produced wool and linen fabrics, premium glass beads, and yarns from Norwegian manufacturers. When imported materials are used, they are selected according to the same high standards.

The project’s philosophy is simple: beginners deserve access to authentic materials and a genuine craft experience. Working with high-quality materials not only produces better results but also helps participants develop a deeper understanding of the skills, traditions, and craftsmanship associated with the bunad. For anyone who has compared working with premium materials to lower-quality alternatives, the difference is immediately apparent.

An Overwhelming Response

Thanks to funding from Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, the project was able to assemble and distribute learning packages. The first one hundred local groups to register to take part in the project could choose two techniques for in-depth training and receive full workshop kits, containing ten complete material kits for each technique, along with sample versions of the remaining learning packages.

In return, participating groups committed to organising courses and actively engaging young people and beginners throughout the project period. The response exceeded all expectations. When registration opened in May 2025, all one hundred starter packages were allocated within just two minutes. A further eighty local groups joined the waiting list, demonstrating the remarkable level of interest in traditional craftsmanship across the country.

Once the learning materials, workshop plans, and kits were completed, the local groups began organising activities in their communities. Instructor training sessions were held both digitally and in several regions to equip volunteers and course leaders with the confidence and skills needed to pass on their knowledge. The results were immediate. So far, more than 1500 participants from across Norway have taken part in Bunadglede-related courses and activities, with a significant portion of the project period remaining.

To ensure broad access, all local groups can download the learning booklets, material lists, and digital teaching resources free of charge. Many groups that did not receive one of the original starter packages have independently produced their own materials and organised workshops and events. A selection of the learning kits has also been made available to the general public through the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association’s webshop.

Reaching Larger Audiences

To introduce traditional craft techniques to even more people, simplified workshop formats were developed for three of the featured techniques. Designed for complete beginners, these short sessions could be completed in around one hour and were particularly suitable for festivals, fairs, and large public events.

One notable example is Fæbrikstad, Norway’s largest festival for sewing and textile enthusiasts, attracting 8000 people annually. The Bunadglede mini-workshops were fully booked in both 2025 and 2026, demonstrating both the accessibility of the format and the strong public interest in learning traditional craft skills. These shorter sessions often serve as a first introduction to bunad-related craftsmanship and encourage participants to pursue more advanced training afterwards.

Reaching Students in Traditional Craft Education

As part of the project, a specialised educational programme was developed for students pursuing studies in fields related to traditional crafts, textiles, and costume production. In 2026, a team consisting of an educator and a professional craft practitioner visits eight educational institutions across Norway, delivering lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops.

The initiative is designed to complement formal education by connecting students with practical knowledge and living craft traditions. Through direct engagement with experienced practitioners, participants gain insight into traditional techniques, material selection, and the role of craftsmanship in safeguarding cultural heritage. By working with students already considering careers in related fields, the project also aims to strengthen future recruitment into specialised craft professions where skilled practitioners are increasingly scarce.

A Book for Everyone

To make the project’s knowledge more widely accessible, each of the six instructional booklets originally developed for the learning kits were expanded and adapted into a standalone format. In addition, step-by-step instructions were created for six further techniques, resulting in a comprehensive collection covering twelve core bunad-related craft skills.

These chapters formed the basis of Bunadglede, a book published in May 2026. More than a practical handbook, the publication places the techniques within a broader cultural and historical context. Alongside illustrated instructions, readers will find historical anecdotes, articles on bunad care and maintenance, information about educational pathways within traditional crafts, discussions of endangered craft techniques, and introductions to the materials used in bunad production.

The book also includes references for further learning and a newly developed illustrated stitch library, providing a valuable resource for beginners as well as more experienced makers. Designed for newcomers, craft enthusiasts, and anyone interested in traditional dress and heritage, Bunadglede serves as both an introduction to Norwegian craft traditions and an invitation to explore them through practical making.

Try your hand at lace stitch and make a beautiful scissor case with this free pattern from the book: Scissor case with lace embroidery

Buy the book from our webshop here.

Looking Ahead

With local groups running workshops across the country, the book in circulation, educational institutions actively involved, and growing public interest, the Bunadglede project has already established a strong foundation for the years to come.

During the remainder of the project period, a series of instructional videos will be developed to complement the written learning materials. Experiences from the project’s first year have provided valuable insight into which techniques present the greatest learning challenges and which would benefit most from visual demonstration. These digital resources will make the knowledge even more accessible, helping learners engage with traditional craftsmanship regardless of location.

The project is also strengthening collaboration with member handicraft shops, professional craftspeople, and specialist producers. By combining educational efforts with access to expertise, tools, and quality materials, these partnerships will play an important role in ensuring that traditional skills remain both visible and accessible to new generations.

The momentum generated by Bunadglede demonstrates the continuing relevance of traditional craftsmanship in contemporary society. What began as an initiative to introduce young people to bunad traditions has evolved into a broader movement centred on knowledge-sharing, community engagement, and cultural sustainability.

Since January 2025, the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association has made bunad and traditional costume craftsmanship a strategic priority. At the organisation’s national assembly in June 2026, this commitment was extended through 2030, ensuring continued investment in initiatives that strengthen the field. Through its network of members, local associations, craft businesses, and professional artisans, our organisation will continue to develop educational programmes, support skill transmission, and promote appreciation for traditional craftsmanship.

The Bunadglede project has shown that when knowledge, enthusiasm, and opportunity come together, traditional skills can thrive in new generations. Its ongoing development will remain an important contribution to safeguarding Norway’s living craft heritage for the future.

Norway and UNESCO

Norway ratified UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2007, thereby committing to the international framework for protecting and promoting living cultural traditions. Under this convention, States Parties are responsible for identifying, documenting, and supporting forms of intangible cultural heritage, while ensuring that the communities who practise these traditions remain at the centre of safeguarding efforts.

In Norway, responsibility for implementing the Convention has been delegated by the Ministry of Culture to the Norwegian Directorate for Culture. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a vital role in this work by acting as bridges between practitioners, communities, and public authorities. Their contributions include identifying living traditions, promoting awareness of cultural heritage, and developing effective methods for transmitting knowledge and skills to future generations.

As a UNESCO accredited NGO, The Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association has been actively involved in this work for many years and has contributed to national and international efforts to strengthen the safeguarding of traditional craftsmanship as a form of living cultural heritage.

The Red List of Traditional Craft Techniques

One of the commitments arising from the UNESCO Convention is the creation of national inventories of intangible cultural heritage. In Norway, the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association has developed the Red List of Traditional Craft, an initiative that identifies craft skills and knowledge at risk of disappearing.

The Red List highlights techniques that are rarely practised, insufficiently documented, or facing challenges in the transmission of knowledge between generations. By drawing attention to endangered skills, the initiative helps raise public awareness and encourages new safeguarding measures, including documentation, education, and practical training.

More broadly, the Red List serves as an important tool for demonstrating that intangible cultural heritage is not only about preserving objects and artefacts, but also about maintaining the knowledge, skills, and traditions that give them meaning.

Read more about our work with the Red List here (in Norwegian)

Bunad Tradition in Norway

The bunad occupies a unique place in contemporary Norwegian society and remains one of the country’s strongest expressions of cultural identity and belonging. Worn for important life events, national celebrations, and community gatherings, the bunad represents both regional heritage and living tradition.

At the same time, the continuity of the tradition depends on the survival of the specialised knowledge and craftsmanship required to create, maintain, and pass on these garments. While the social practice of wearing bunads remains strong, many of the associated craft skills face challenges related to recruitment, training, and knowledge transmission.

Recognising both the cultural significance of the bunad and the importance of the craftsmanship behind it, the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association worked together with Noregs Ungdomslag, the Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume, the Study Association for Culture and Tradition, and the Norwegian Folk Costume Forum to secure international recognition for the tradition.

Their efforts culminated on 5 December 2024, when Traditional costumes in Norway, craftsmanship and social practice was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The inscription highlights not only the garments themselves, but also the craftsmanship, knowledge-sharing, and community practices that sustain the tradition. By recognising bunad as living heritage, the inscription helps raise awareness nationally and internationally and supports ongoing efforts to ensure that the tradition continues to thrive for future generations.

Read more about UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity here.