The Finnish Crafts Organization is made up of 15 regional crafts associations called Taito-associations. The more than 60 Crafts Centres and nearly 30 craft shops run by local Taito-association form the largest network of craft services in Finland. There are locations from Rovaniemi to the Turku archipelago and from the Joensuu region to the west coast. Three associations also organize craft courses and activities in Swedish. In addition to the own Crafts Centres network, craft courses are organised at customers’ own premises, for example as on-demand courses for a working group, and in some areas there is also a mobile bus service, which brings craft courses to residents’ homes or village houses in remote areas.

Centres of craft experiences

Taito-associations offer low-threshold encounters where people and communities interested in crafts can meet over crafts. Craft classes, clubs and workshops offer creative ways to make crafts, together with others. Taito-associations offer a wide range of craft courses. Some of the courses are run in cooperation with adult education centres and learning centres. The associations offer a range of benefits to their members, but membership is not required to participate.

Workshop work in the Craft Centres is a good opportunity to work independently. For a daily fee, you can hire looms from many of the centres and weave at your own pace, for example rag rugs and woollen blankets. Weaving studios are often also available outside opening hours

Taito-associations work to maintain the craft culture of their region. Their shops often sell local products from their own region. Although the associations share a common chain of Taito Shop stores, each region has its own specific range of products, which varies from store to store