Launched in 2009, the European Prize for Applied Arts recognizes contemporary creative works in the fields of applied arts and craft-based design.

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From November 24, 2024, to February 16, 2025, a major exhibition bringing together some of Europe’s finest creators in contemporary applied arts is being held at the Anciens Abattoirs in Mons. This sixth edition features 58 artists from 16 European countries, showcasing around one hundred unique works.

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The exhibition aims to present the very best of European work through creations that demonstrate technical and aesthetic mastery. It highlights craft disciplines such as ceramics, glass, metalwork, woodworking, textiles, paper art, and contemporary jewelry—works that all rely on the mastery of manual skill. Beyond mere craftsmanship, the exhibition also emphasizes the contemporary nature of these pieces. Today’s creators are breaking free from traditional conventions to question the world around them. New materials and techniques complement traditional methods, revealing an art form that is at once modern and ancient, steeped in tradition yet subversive.

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To ensure that the mastery of manual skill is properly valued and recognized, BeCraft has given its event a new title: MAESTRIA.