How Craftsmanship Preserves Tradition and Shapes the Future

On December 11, 2025, the closing panel discussion of our project “World Heritage and Craftsmanship” took place at the Bamberg World Heritage Visitor Center—a fitting setting for the 32nd anniversary of Bamberg’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rainer Beck, Ulrich Bauer-Bornemann, Barbara Wittmann, Milena Soquat, and Simona von Eyb discussed with guests the role of craftsmanship for the World Heritage Site and its future prospects.

The focus was particularly on questions regarding the transmission of craftsmanship knowledge, the interplay between tradition and innovation, and the perspectives of young people. It became clear that the future of the crafts sector depends on involving the next generation early on and teaching craft skills in a contemporary way—a prerequisite for securing and further developing the World Heritage Site in the long term. The discussion also highlighted how important collaboration among various stakeholders is to continue strengthening the crafts sector as a cornerstone of the World Heritage Site.

The project was funded by the Bamberg World Heritage Foundation and supported by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and the Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia—thank you very much!

Photo: Nadine Gumpert / Bamberg City Archives