About Us

Who we are

WHO WE ARE

MATA (Macedonian Artisan Trade Association) is a non-profit organization established in 2005 by members of the local staff of Aid to Artisans, Inc. (ATA) in Macedonia. MATA was formed in response to requests from design and craft micro entrepreneurs for continued assistance in the strategic areas of capacity building and advocacy as they try to overcome structural constraints in these sectors in Macedonia.

MISSION STATEMENT

MATA aims to foster the development of design and craft sector in Macedonia and achieve tangible social changes and benefits for designers, artisans and craft micro enterprises by providing assistance in product development, market access and capacity-building.

ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

  • Building design and craft businesses and develop the capacity of design and artisan entrepreneurs, especially in areas of product design and development, marketing and sales.
  • Promoting Macedonian handmade sector in local and export markets.
  • Strengthening the design and craft sector’s coordination with larger business associations and representation in trade associations.
  • Advocating for changes in the design and craft sector and Macedonian economy a  large to encourage design and craft business growth.
  • Revitalizing traditional craft skills.
  • Introducing new technologies
  • Cooperating with local governments to use the design and craft sector as a resource for economic, social and cultural development.
What we do

1. Design & Product Development

• Product Development and Design
• Product adaptation for increased marketability
• Design implementation
• Coordination between design and crafts sectors
• Linkage between design and crafts sector with local and international markets
• Product development processes

2. Market Linkages - Marketing Assistance

• Participate in international trade fairs/bazaars and preparation services for participating artisans
• Maintain and develop buyer relations and facilitate buyer visits
• Organize Craft Fairs and promotional events
• Represent handmade products for corporate gift and protocol market

3. Business Training Programs - Training and Capacity-Building

Product Development
• How to prepare successful product collections
• Pricing and Costing
• Trends
• Quality Control

Marketing and sales
• Preparation for Craft Fairs and International Trade Shows
• Design of effective promotional materials
• Business communication, customer satisfaction and quality control

Business, financial and administrative management
• Business plan development and strategic growth
• Management

Technical assistance and guidance
• Conceptualize and implement practical skills training such us: filigree, needlework, weaving, felt making etc.

4. Skills WORKSHOPS

MATA offers different kind of craft skills and business workshops in its ARTiZAN Centre, Skopje Old Bazaar.
Find out more about our unique workshops on the link bellow
Workshops

5. Projects

1. Design competition – Souvenir of City of Skopje
1. Project Title: Design competition – Souvenir of City of Skopje
Location Skopje, MK
Time Frame

Funded by

October 2008 – March 2009

City of Skopje, Agens doo

Results 20 designers identified; 3 best designers awarded; 15 designers and souvenir designs were presented and exhibited; 1 catalogue created, presenting the designers and souvenir designs; 1 sale exhibition; 3 winning design collections produced.
2. ARTiZAN Center, Skopje Old Bazaar – Public Private Partnership Initiative – transferring the jurisdiction to the end users
2. Project Title: ARTiZAN Center, Skopje Old Bazaar – Public Private Partnership Initiative – transferring the jurisdiction to the end users
Location Skopje, Macedonia
Time Frame February, 2018 – November, 2018
Funded by Funded by EU and Preda Plus Foundation

 

Objectives Objectives:

1.To improve CSO MATA’s capacity for lobbing and advocacy for the interests of its members, collaborators and users of its services.

2.To straighten CSO MATA’s position/role in the Creative Industries Sector (design, artisans and crafts work),  a rethrough creation of opportunities for direct collaboration between the design and crafts sector with the Local Government.

3.To Increase CSO MATA’s visibility in the Creative Industries Sector in front of Local and Central Government, and also in front of the wider audience.

Expected Results/Impact Improved CSO MATA’s capacity for lobbing and advocacy for the interests of its members, collaborators and users of its services.

Straightened CSO MATA’s position/role in the Creative Industries Sector (design, artisans and crafts work), through creation of opportunities for direct collaboration between the design and crafts sector with the Local Government.

Increased CSO MATA’s visibility in the Creative Industries Sector in front of Local and Central Government, and also in front of the wider audience

3. ARTiZAN Center, Skopje Old Bazaar
3. Project Title: “ARTiZAN Center, Skopje Old Bazaar”
Location Skopje, Macedonia
Time Frame 2013 - present
Funded by City of Skopje, MATA, Artisans

 

Objectives To Foster development of the Creative Industries Sector in Macedonia through creating opportunities for long-term employment and increased income for creative micro and small enterprises)

 

Expected Results/Impact 3 Artisans Workshops established

1 Crafts/Design Skills Workshop established

1 Showroom established

4. CraftART Fest – Christmas Bazaar

4. Project Title:

CraftART Fest – Christmas Bazaar 

Location

Skopje, Macedonia

Time Frame

2005 - present

Funded by

MATA, Hotel ARKA, Artisans, Ministry of Culture, City of Skopje,

 

Objectives

To create opportunities for promotion and income generation for designers and artisans through direct sale

Expected Results/Impact

34 participants each year (Yearly Event related to the Christmas Holidays) with improved sales

 

 

5. “Kristal Market” - A Project Related to Christmas Holidays in the framework of the Sister Cities collaboration between Nuremberg and Skopje – Yearly Event
5. Project Title: Kristal Market A Project Related to Christmas Holidays in the framework of the Sister Cities collaboration between Nuremberg and Skopje – Yearly Event
Location Nuremberg, Germany
Time Frame December, 2007 - December, 2018
Funded by City of Nuremberg, MATA, Artisans 

 

Objectives To present the creative potential from Skopje and to create opportunities direct sales for artisans.
6. Handicrafts4u
6. Project Title: Handicrafts4u
Location Skopje, Macedonia
Time Frame June, 2017 - Dec, 2017
Funded by Funded by Open Society Institute/Mental Health Initiative

 

Objectives 1.To create social enterprise under the brand “Handicrafts4u

2.To create brand identity

3.To develop production capacities of persons with special needs, engaged in the social enterprise

4.To create quality designed products portfolio for direct sale in the market

 

7. Social Enterprenership – means for socialisation
7. Project Title: “Social Enterprenership – means for socialisation”
Location Skopje, Macedonia
Time Frame Oct, 2013 - March, 201
Funded by Funded by Open Society Institute/Mental Health Initiative
Objectives 1.To improve business capacities of the NGO SOLEM

2.To develop practical production skills of NGO SOLEM’s Staff

3.To develop practical production skills of people with special needs

8. Creative Businesses Project
8. Project Title: Creative Businesses Project 
Location Skopje, Macedonia
Time Frame December, 2010 - December, 2012
Funded by USAID
 
Objectives Foster the development of the creative industries sector in Macedonia, creating opportunities for long-term employment and increased income for creative micro and small enterprises through the following:

1. Strengthen the “Creative Industries Center (CIC) – Skopje” to extend its business support services to companies;

2. Generate productive employment by working with unemployed persons, youth and women to start their own creative businesses; and

3. Improve the business performance of micro and small enterprises in the creative industries sector to respond successfully to market demands.

9. European Values in Heritage” (EVAH) A Project for Awareness-Raising in the Western Balkans
10. Project Title: European Values in Heritage (EVAH)

A Project for Awareness-Raising in the Western Balkans

Location Regional: Girokastra (Albania), Metsovo and Ioannina (Greece), Prizren (Kosovo), Skopje and Ohrid (R. Macedonia)
Time Frame December, 2010 - June, 2012
Funded by European Union
Objectives Foster the development of the creative industries sector in Macedonia, creating opportunities for long-term employment and increased income for creative micro and small enterprises through the following:

1. To raise awareness among the general public about the cultural and economic values of historic cities and handcrafts as a common European heritage

2. To raise awareness and build capacities among decision-makers about the cultural and economic values of historic cities and handcrafts as common European heritage

3. To develop synergies among NGOs working for the preservation of historic cities, based on shared European values and standards.

11. Mapping of wood processing and furniture industry of Macedonia
11. Project Title: “Mapping of wood processing and furniture industry of Macedonia”
Location Skopje, Macedonia
Time Frame

Funded by

December 31, 2010 - June 30, 2012

SIPPO(Swiss Imports promotion Program)

Results 30 furniture and 50 wood processing companies were presented on CD-Rom as basis for promotion of Macedonian furniture & wood processing industry.
12. Product Development Process
12. Project Title: Product Development Process 
Location Shkodra, Gjirokastra, Albania
Time Frame

Funded by

October – November 2010

UN Joint Programme Culture and Heritage for Social and Economic Development, UNDP-Tirana, Albania

Results 17 producers participated on product development sessions;

59 single products were designed; 48 product collection were implemented; 37 sample products completed 2 sub-sectors  were covered (wood, textile).

13. Market Readiness Program for Artisans

 

13. Project Title: Market Readiness Program for Artisans
Location, Shkodra, Girocastra – Albania,
Time Frame

Funded by

December 2009,

SNV, Albania

Results 35 Participants learned to take steps in developing new products, to discover customer needs and offer the right solutions, to use contemporary tools for market access and to maintain buyers’ relations on global market.
14. Transferring Craft Skills
14. Project Title: Transferring Craft Skills
Location Skopje MK
Time Frame

Funded by

November 2009

Academia Italiana

Results 12 students learned the basics of felt production36 product collection made.

 

15. Project Title: Design competition – Souvenir of City of Skopje
Location Skopje, MK
Time Frame

Funded by

October 2008 – March 2009

City of Skopje, Agens doo

Results 20 designers identified; 3 best designers awarded; 15 designers and souvenir designs were presented and exhibited; 1 catalogue created, presenting the designers and souvenir designs; 1 sale exhibition; 3 winning design collections produced.
16. Assessment of Macedonian Hand Craft sector
16. Project Title: “Assessment of Macedonian Hand Craft sector”
Location 30 locations in Macedonia
Time Frame

Funded by

April 2008

SIPPO (Swiss Imports promotion Program)

Results 55 micro handcraft businesses were assessed.
17. Assessment of the Hand Craft sector in Butrint and Gjirokastra - Albania
17. Project Title: Assessment of the Hand Craft sector in Butrint and Gjirokastra - Albania
Location Butrint and Gjirokastra – Albania
Time Frame

Funded by

December 2007

Butrint Foundation, UK London

Results 30 micro handcraft business were assessed.
18. Mapping of wood processing and furniture industry of Macedonia
18. Project Title: “Mapping of wood processing and furniture industry of Macedonia”
Location 30 locations in Macedonia
Time Frame

Funded by

June – July 2007

SIPPO(Swiss Imports promotion Program)

Results 50 furniture and 20 wood processing companies were presented on CD-Rom as basis for promotion of Macedonian furniture & wood processing industry; The CD-Rom was distributed  at “Imm”  - Cologne and “Made EXPO” – Milan;  3 contacts were created between European importers and Macedonian producers.
19. Macedonian Handcraft Sector - Sustainability and Confidence building through Market links
19. Project Title: “Macedonian Handcraft Sector - Sustainability and Confidence building through Market links”
Location Berovo, Kumanovo, Tetovo, MK
Time Frame

Funded by

January – December 2007

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Results 40 artisans participated at two Basic Business training sessions; 40 artisans participated at two Advanced Export training sessions; 40 artisans participated at two  Preparatory Craft Fair Participation sessions; 12 Product development sessions; 12 New Product collections.
20. Assessment and Marketing Readiness Training for Handcraft sector in Shkodra - Albania in the framework of the project “Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs in N. Albania”
20. Project Title: Assessment  and Marketing Readiness Training for Handcraft sector in Shkodra -  Albania  in the framework of the project “Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs in N. Albania”
Location, Berovo, Kumanovo, Tetovo, MK,
Time Frame

Funded by

April – June 2006

International Labour Office

Results 28 producers participated in product development and production management training sessions; 22 producer received direct design mentoring and improved the current product collections; 6 producers managed to develop product samples during the consultancy; 46 product collection were implemented; 157 single products were designed.

 

21. Marketing Readiness Program
21. Project Title: “Marketing Readiness Program”
Location Skopje, MK
Time Frame

Funded by

March - May 2006

Chemonics International (Kosovo Cluster and Business Support) (USAID funded project)

Results The program provided entrepreneurial training in business skills and organizational development for representatives of seven women associations from Kosovo.
22. Macedonian Handmade Cultural Identity - Tradition/Innovation” “Macedonian Handmade Cultural Identity - Tradition/Innovation
22. Project Title: “Macedonian Handmade Cultural Identity - Tradition/Innovation”
Location Tetovo, Jegunovce, Istibanja MK,
Time Frame

Funded by

January -December  2006

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Results 9 artisans learned the traditional technique of weaving; 30 women attended basic business training; 60 Macedonian and Albanian women directly impacted by the project activities; 300 individuals benefiting indirectly for the project activities; 4 traditional costumes were produced; 15 product lines were developed. The project achievements were presented in front of approximately 6000 people on several occasions: project promotions, new product lines promotions, craft bazaar, international trade show; 4000 euros were generated from local sales.

6. Gallery