The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship

The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship is an international non-profit organisation that celebrates and preserves master craftsmanship and strengthens its connection to the worlds of design, hospitality and the wider arts. The Michelangelo Foundation was founded by Johann Rupert and Franco Cologni in Geneva in October 2016. Johann Rupert is a leading South African businessman and Chairman of the Swiss-based luxury group Richemont International. Franco Cologni is an Italian entrepreneur, author and cultural authority and former Chairman of Cartier International. The Foundation’s mission is to champion craftsmanship, endorse and enable artisans to sell their work, and to sustain and grow their businesses in the long-term. The Foundation aims to make craftsmanship more relevant socially, culturally, and economically by:

Giving visibility to international craftspeople through public events

Homo Faber Event is a public exhibition of global contemporary craftsmanship, staged at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, Italy, every two years. The previous editions in 2018 and 2022 (following a postponement due to the pandemic) celebrated the work of master artisans, rising stars and designers. Doppia Firma (Double Signature) is an annual event inaugurated in 2016 that pairs top international designers with master artisans to produce a unique collection of objects. The resulting collection of objects is revealed at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, before being shown at key exhibitions across Europe. Find out more about the events at homofaber.com and doppiafirma.com

Supporting the next generation of craftspeople

The Michelangelo Foundation is investing in the future of crafts. The Foundation’s educational programmes seek to make craft professions socially, culturally and financially appealing to the younger generations. The aim is to develop the employability of the Foundation’s community of young artisans. Explore the educational initiatives at michelangelofoundation.org

Connecting craftspeople to the public

Homo Faber Guide is a unique digital platform launched in 2020 which connects users with an international craft community of over 2000 talented artisans from 40 countries in Europe and beyond. Newly selected artisans appear weekly and new countries are added every three months. Participating artisans can apply through the Evaluation Tool  or are proposed by the Foundation’s  network members. Discover the Homo Faber Guide at homofaber.com/en/guide