Traditionally crosses or grave signs crafted by local blacksmiths have been a vital part of remembrance and sorrow processes many places in the world. These have offered a locally made, sustainable and meaningful way to honor deceased loved ones.

The tradition of having a grave marker made by a blacksmith have been an important part in building a strong cultural identity of the area. The grave markers have often been made by the most skilled local blacksmiths, not only showing a connection to the specific areas craft tradition, but also constantly refining techniques and aesthetics and developing new interpretations of the tradition.

To have a local blacksmith making a monument for a deceased person offers a unique possibility to commemorate that person with a highly personal grave marker, underlining personalities or preferences of the deceased or even the connection to their family, the area or their belief. In this situation the blacksmith acts not only as a skilled maker, but also as an artist who via a tight collaboration and dialogue interprets the wishes of the mourners or the deceased.

Not only have these traditions have been a vital part of building a strong cultural identity and supporting a local economy. They have also been a part of a small-scale local manufacturing system that in many ways are environmentally sounder than large scale factory production and global transportation of raw materials and finished produce.

However, in our rapidly changing society, graveyards too reflect broader societal shifts. Over the past few decades, global industry has driven blacksmiths out of this market, leading to the disappearance of regional cultures, customs, and traditions. At the same time digital memorials and online tributes are becoming more common, complementing physical grave markers.

Given these challenges, we find that there is a growing need for new rituals and the revitalization of old ones. In this call for proposals, we look for new ways of working with these topics, ways that can bridge contemporary needs and traditional crafts and values and give new interpretations or ways to work with these.

Who Can Participate?

We invite all metal makers to participate in this call for proposals. This includes blacksmiths, fabricators, casters, artists, designers, students, and trainees.

What we would like to see:

We would like to see new and unique ways to work with and interpret these traditions. Here are some ideas and concepts for memorial signs, markers, or crosses, all resonating around metal and the craftsmanship of local makers:

1. Unique Traditions: Incorporate cultural and subcultural symbolism or rituals, using metal to reflect the heritage and/or beliefs of the deceased.

2. Digitization: Utilize virtual reality or create virtual memorials, integrating metal elements that can be scanned or interacted with digitally.

3. Co-Design: Engage in personalized design, community workshops, ritual based making to create unique and meaningful metal markers in collaboration with local blacksmiths, fabricator and artists.

4. Sustainability: Use recycled or upcycled metals to promote environmental responsibility and sustainability in the creation of memorial markers.

5. Innovative Concepts: Explore new ideas and approaches that address contemporary challenges and needs, ensuring that metal memorials remain relevant and meaningful.

These concepts highlight the importance of metal and the role of local makers in creating personalized, sustainable, and culturally significant memorials.

Process:

·        Deadline 20th October 2025

·        We will select 8-10 concepts to be developed in collaboration with us.

·        Each participant will receive a budget to produce their work within three months, which can be used for production costs or workspace rental.

·        Participants will have a mentor and consultant to refine their concepts and approaches.

·        The production phase will conclude with the shipping of the final work for documentation and exhibition.