The Mostra Internazionale dell’Artigianato di Firenze, known as MIDA, opened annually at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, hosting artisans and enterprises of various sizes and sectors. The exhibition aimed to offer visitors an experience reflecting the diversity, richness, and quality of a craft sector that unites tradition and innovation, drawing growing interest.
History and Foundation
Founded in 1931 as Italy’s first craft trade fair, MIDA intertwined its history with that of a region that made Florence and Tuscany the ideal location for promoting, developing, and conducting research in the artisanal sector. Craft tradition and creativity had always played a significant role in the region’s economic and socio-cultural sphere. At MIDA, the skilled hands of tradition collaborated with self-productions, design, and emerging forms of digital craftsmanship.
The Craft Sectors and Philosophy
MIDA presented the multiplicity of the artisan multiverse in constant dialogue between valorizing ancient knowledge and adopting advanced technologies characteristic of the Industry 4.0 scenario. The companies present based their value on competencies transmitted through generations, attention to every detail, and continuous development of new techniques and materials. The medieval Bottega Artigiana model, born in Florence, represented not only a unit of production but also an opportunity for sustainable development and quality of life.
Leadership and Support Networks
The MIDA Committee involved a high-level scientific committee guided by Artistic Director Jean Blanchaert, a gallery owner, curator, and art critic. Florence emerged as a place of contemporary creative craftsmanship, supported by a system of schools, museums, and institutions connected to the artisan world. Among contributors to the craft sector was the Donne Imprenditrici network, which aimed to support and promote female entrepreneurship in Italian craftsmanship. At the international level, MIDA became a key reference point in the evolution of the creative system linked to artisanship.
Frequently asked questions
When was MIDA established?
MIDA was founded in 1931 as the first craft trade fair in Italy.
Where does MIDA take place?
MIDA opens annually at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence.
Who leads MIDA’s scientific committee?
Jean Blanchaert, a gallerist, curator, and art critic, serves as the Artistic Director guiding the high-level scientific committee.