The Grand Est region is preparing to welcome an unprecedented center of excellence with the launch of the Campus of Excellence for Art Crafts, Design, and Object Professions (CMQE MADO), scheduled to open in early 2026. This ambitious project aims to coordinate and strengthen an already thriving ecosystem that positions the region as France's third-largest in terms of revenue for art crafts. With a tightly knit network of training programs and 16,400 specialized companies, the initiative consolidates Grand Est's role as a driving force in French and European artisanal industries. The campus represents a strategic effort to preserve traditional skills while fostering innovation in contemporary design.

The region currently boasts 55 training centers offering art craft programs ranging from woodworking and metalwork to glass, stone, and fashion, serving approximately 1,500 students annually in initial and continuing education. These programs span qualification levels from vocational certificates (CAP) to advanced degrees. Grand Est hosts several unique institutions, including France's only National Basket Weaving School in Fayl-Billot and Europe's sole organ building school in Eschau, Alsace. Third spaces supporting young creators, such as the Ateliers Éclairés in Strasbourg and the Cité du Faire in Greater Nancy, already dot the territory. The new campus will systematize these scattered resources into a cohesive network.

Major luxury manufacturers have strongly endorsed the project, including prestigious houses like Baccarat, Lalique, and Cristallerie Saint-Louis, which belong to competitiveness clusters and heritage craft federations. According to Raphaëlle Le Baud, founder of the nonprofit media outlet The Craft Project, the region's success stems from decades of advocacy to maintain these specialized programs. The campus will operate under a strategic orientation committee to define priorities, supported by a steering committee and working groups focused on communication and research. Alexis Claudel, head of the Boutet-de-Monvel school in Lunéville, will pilot the initiative, ensuring strong connections between educational institutions and industry needs.

A key component of the campus's outreach is the 'My Career Tomorrow' campaign, funded by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation and The Craft Project. This multimedia initiative includes twenty-five films and eight podcasts promoting art crafts to middle school students and their parents. After a successful run in the Paris region, ten films and six podcasts were produced in Grand Est and released in January 2025, generating over five million views. The campaign addresses critical labor shortages by showcasing inspiring career paths, including stories like Gildas François, who transitioned from seven years of psychoanalysis studies to upholstery through regional retraining programs.

The campus will focus on three main axes: career awareness, lifelong learning, and innovation. Sophie Reinert, the regional campus coordinator, emphasizes that systematic networking will create active pathways between vocational and higher education, raising skill levels and improving job placement. Romain Calvo, a CAP cabinetmaking apprentice at AFPIA Est-Nord, exemplifies this success—he won a gold medal at the 2024 Best Apprentices of France competition. The initiative also addresses the trend of bachelor's degree holders pursuing vocational certificates, suggesting that professional skills could be integrated into art schools through collaborations with specialized training centers.

European funding, foundation support, and corporate sponsorship will provide cofinancing, giving the campus autonomy to respond to national calls for projects and develop consortium work. International partnerships, particularly within Europe, represent a crucial development axis. With a clear visual identity and dedicated communication tools, CMQE MADO aims to create a sense of belonging and become a magnet for talent. As Le Baud notes, nine out of ten ceramic arts graduates from the European Institute of Ceramic Arts (IEAC) chose to settle in Grand Est after understanding they would be supported professionally. This transformation positions the region as 'the place to be' for art crafts in an increasingly complicated world where, as Le Baud states, these are 'the only professions artificial intelligence will never replace.'