Prethodno priopćenje
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.64.1.2
Traditional Crafts as a Potential for Social Entrepreneurship: The Case of the Blažeković Gingerbread and Candle Making Workshop in Osijek
Damir Demonja
; Institut za razvoj i međunarodne odnose, Odjel za međunarodne gospodarske i političke odnose, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sanja Tišma
; Institut za razvoj i međunarodne odnose, Zagreb, Hrvatska
David Ranogajec
Sažetak
This paper explores the potential of traditional crafts as a micro-form of social entrepreneurship,
focusing on the gingerbread and candle-making craft in Croatia. By applying an integrated theoretical
framework that connects sustainable local development, intangible cultural heritage, and
social entrepreneurship, the study analyzes the multidimensional role of crafts within the local
community. The research is based on a qualitative approach using a case study of the Blažeković
gingerbread and candle-making workshop in Osijek, triangulating data obtained through an
in-depth interview, observation of the production process, and historical archival analysis. The
results demonstrate that traditional crafts operate in practice as informal social enterprises,
fulfilling a strong social and cultural mission of preserving inherited skills, with an added value
that transcends mere market exchange. However, despite international recognition, their survival
is severely threatened by an inadequate institutional and regulatory framework (such as
inappropriate classification, strict regulations on field-based family labor, the HACCP system,
and a lack of educational mechanisms for new artisans). The paper concludes that ensuring
the long-term sustainability of traditional crafts requires abandoning exclusively profit-driven
and mass-production criteria, and establishing an integrated support framework in which the
local community assumes a key role in protecting and actively co-creating craft development.
Ključne riječi
traditional craft; social entrepreneurship; intangible cultural heritage; gingerbread making; licitar; case study; local development; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
350339
URI
Datum izdavanja:
25.8.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *