IRON NOTES

At the Borders of Iron

At the Borders of Iron (IronNotes) is a series of events and a network that gather professionals, makers, students and broader audiences around the common theme of metal. With a strong background in metalworks and blacksmithing network brings together artists, creators, designers, producers and educators from five different countries to broaden the view of the use of metal in the society today. Project consortium seeks to find ways to strengthen the awareness of blacksmithing tradition, its possibilities to enhance regionality and co-operation between several countries.

There are six partners in the consortium: LAB University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design and Fine Arts (Finland), ME-talli Oy (Finland), Gothenburg University (Sweden), Associazione Autonoma per la Biennale d’Arte Fabbrile (Italy), Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia) and Oslo National Academy of the Arts (Norway). All collaborating parties in this project, resonate around the material metal in terms of education, professional fields, institutions, and general audiences. New needs in a rapidly changing society, also challenges old craft trades, such as blacksmithing, to reflect, adapt and re-invent their roles in society. In this project this process of development and exposure can be initiated and stimulated.

The project adopts a society-wide approach. Its target groups include academia, with universities and their staff with the competence and interest towards metals as well as researchers in the relevant fields such as cultural studies, students of all ages and young people potentially interested in this culture, blacksmithing professionals as well as communities, cities and societies in general.

Takes place in project

The project will shed light on the traditional craft and bring forth new ways and methods to benefit society today. It will increase the opportunity for blacksmithing professionals to establish and strengthen their role in 21st-century Europe with contemporary trends such as sustainability and digitalization in mind.

Blogs and Articles

Objectives

This project aims to stimulate, through research, workshops, symposiums and exhibitions, support for the art of blacksmithing and the professionals in this field in re-establishing historical, regional and cultural connections on the European level. The project aims to indicate the role of metal objects in society today and to find out the values related to public entities and places by engaging and mediating with citizens in interpreting this type of cultural heritage today. The project promotes international co-production and creativity of new ways to enhance the visibility and role of blacksmithing in the modern era.

The project will shed light on the traditional craft and bring forth new ways and methods to benefit society today. It will increase the opportunity for blacksmithing professionals to establish and strengthen their role in 21st-century Europe with contemporary trends such as sustainability and digitalization in mind.

Outcomes

Short-term effects:

– new approaches to cultural heritage – more people have had access to cultural heritage during the events

Medium-term effects:

– increased knowledge of matters relating to metalworking and metal objects

Long-term effects:

– re-establishment of historical, regional and cultural connections of blacksmithing

– the art of blacksmithing has become an enhancer and creator of communal memories

Project period

1.1.2025 - 31.7.2027

Project state

On-going

Project area

International

Project funding

Creative Europe Culture

Biennale role

partner

Unit

Volunteer organization

Project focus area

Intangible value creation

Iron Notes activities in Stia

During the 26th Blacksmithing art Biennale in Stia which took place in September 2025, a variety of special and dedicated activities were organized in the framework of the Iron notes project, in tight cooperation with the project ‘s international partners:

IRON NOTES ART EXHIBITION:

The Iron notes project partners were offered the opportunity to showcase artwork pieces made by artists, students, and alumni of their institutions, in a dedicated section of the Iron art exhibition set up in the Stia Wood Mil. A total of 32 pieces by 25 artists were included in the exhibition, and a variety of information material (leaflets, panels) were made available to visitors to learn more about the project and the institutions involved, besides continuous video projection. Short meetings and presentations by project partners were also held in the dedicated section.

We invite you to visit the dedicated webpage, available at the link below, to explore all the performances held to date as part of the Iron Notes project.

IRON NOTES CONFERENCES

All Iron notes project partners were invited to hold conferences and speeches in the dedicated wool mill hall, to showcase their expertise and share relevant research findings on Metal art-related topics. Three conferences were held on the main topic
“Forging European Dialogues: Metal Art Between Memory, Space and Society”:
– Heiner Zimmermann, UGÖT – University of Gothenburg (Sweden) “Grave Markers – a Frontier for Blacksmithing?”
– Sampo Malin, LAB University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design and Fine Arts Lappeenranta (Finland): “The Impact of Public Art: Lessons Learned from Engaging Processes”
– Anti Nieminen and Jouko Nieminen, ME-talli Oy (Finland) “Me-talli’s role consulting other arts and
architecture’

You can access all the conferences organized within the Iron Notes project by clicking on the following link.

IRON NOTES SUMMER CAMP

An immersive training camp, dedicated to young aspiring blacksmiths from across Europe, was organized and held From September 6 to 10 in the premises of the S.T.I.A. Academy – School Training Iron & Arts. This hands-on training and exchange initiative, the first of its kind, enabled 20 students and 3 master blacksmiths from Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Italy to engage in workshops, training sessions, and professional exchange with 2 Italian master blacksmiths. Participants could explore different forging techniques, experimenting and comparing traditional and contemporary approaches.
The camp was realized with the additional support of the region of Tuscany and the Erasmus+ European program.

To learn more about the Summer Camp project, click on the following news item.

IRON NOTES DESIGN AND DRAWING COMPETITION:

The 2025 edition of the Design and drawing competition, whose subject was the entrance gate of the Stia Iron Forging school promoted in the framework of the Iron Notes project, with a view to facilitate participation of artists, artisans and designers from the partner institutions.

You can access all the open calls launched under the European project by clicking on the following link.

Iron Notes Blacksmithing & Metal Art Community

The Iron Notes Blacksmithing & Metal Art Community group is an international meeting place for blacksmiths, metal artists, students, researchers, and anyone interested in the field. The purpose of the group is to share experiences, advice, and inspiration, as well as to discuss the significance of forging and metalwork in terms of tradition, art, and contemporary society.

The aim is to build and manage an online community of qualified professionals from across the EU. This network also serves as a tool to foster artistic and creative collaborations that go beyond the direct interests of the project consortium.

We warmly invite you to join the group, take part in the discussion, and become part of this growing international community. Click the button below to access the Facebook group: