Basic information

The ETN Community
The Manifesto of 1991

What you should know about ETN

ETN is a non-profit organisation with its seat in Strasbourg and a secretariat in Hannover. Informally the Network was set up in 1991 in Erfurt and founded as an International Association after Alsacian law in 1993 under the auspices of the Council of Europe as the Carrier Network for the European Textile Routes in the frame of the Council of Europe´s Cultural Itineraries programme.

The members (institutions, groups and individuals)
a) Artists, crafts people and designers (associations)
b) Individuals/institutions taking care of cultural heritage (museums etc.)
c) Lecturers/institutions for education and research

The aims
1. Development of European co-operation for the field of textile culture
2. Furtherance of East-West integration within all fields of ETN activities
3. Co-operation with non-European partners

The means
- Conferences (general assemblies) held regularly in ever changing venues in Europe
- Publication of a quarterly Newsletter in English language together with brochures and handbooks published occasionally
- Providing a website - continuously updated - with newest information
•·Links to service institutions, foundations and other useful websites
• Address database with about 4000 files
• Calendar of events with round about 1000 previews of events per anno
• (planned) Discussion Forum for different groups of interest
• "European Textile Routes" as a versatile virtual and real tool for specialists, textile enthusiasts, students, pupils and lecturers alike

These means are serving the members and their partners to assist at the exchange of information and experiences and to prepare and carry through international projects (e. g meetings, exhibitions, seminars, publications).
The ETN association as an institution is only partaking resp. leading such projects improving the
informational infrastructure of the Network itself. All other events and projects are carried through by the ETN members and their partners independently and without consultation of the Board!

The financing
The daily activities of the association by the Board members and group leaders are done on a honorary basis without compensation of expenses. Costs of materials, administration and mobility at the ETN secretariat are mainly covered by membership fees.
The costs of the ETN Conferences are covered by the hosts, local sponsors and by the participants.
Project costs are most often covered equally by furtherance means from European institutions, national resp. regional foundations and/or own resources of the ETN members.