The crafts associations in Finland were founded in 1906 and the oldest of the still active Taito-associations (formerly known as handicraft associations) were founded in 1907. In 1907, a craft magazine called Kotiteollisuus was published for the first time. Nowadays Taito-magazine continues the legacy of the first craft magazine in Finland.

A central federation was established in 1913 to manage the common affairs of the craft sector and earlier founded associations. Organization functioned as a delegation until 1934, when the Central Federation of Finnish Cottage Industry Organisations (Suomen Kotiteollisuusjärjestöjen Keskusliitto) was registered. It was not until 1945 that the Federation was given its own premises and permanent staff, when it began to receive regular state aid to finance its activities. Craft and art colleges were largely owned by cottage industry associations until the 1960s, when ownership was gradually transferred to municipalities and joint municipal authorities.

In 1964, the name of the association was changed to the Confederation of Cottage Industries (Kotiteollisuuden keskusliitto). The name was used to emphasise its role as a unifying promoter of the industry as a whole, not just as a central association of its member associations. In 1991, the obsolete term ‘cottage industry’ was abandoned and the name was changed to The Finnish Craft and Art Organization. In 2001, the name was changed to The Finnish Craft Organization Taito. The shorter name Taito Organization (Taitoliitto) is used as a marketing name.

Many things have changed over the course of history, but from the beginning the organisation has been a promoter of craft culture, craftsmanship and the craft industry. Craft and crafts associations have made a significant contribution to the preservation and development of craft skills. This work has been done in particular through craft centres. The first permanent centre was set up in Joensuu in 1945. In 1988, there were a total of 205 centres. Today, there are about 100 local centres or other servicepoints.

Important annual figures

1904 First craft and art industry (Kotiteollisuus Oy / Kuopio seudun kty, now Taito Itä-Suomi)
1906 First craft and crafts association (Varkauden seudun kty)
1907 TAITO magazine as Käsiteollisuus
1913 Federation of Crafts and Crafts Industries
1944 First handicraft centre (oldest operating: Joensuu Handicraft Centre, Taito Pohjois-Karjala)
1965 Handicrafts and Crafts Promotion Foundation
1986 first handicraft and crafts centre (Verkaranta, Taito Pirkanmaa)
1989 First children’s craft schools (Taito Etelä-Pohjanmaa and Nylands hantverk rf)
1996 online service for entrepreneurs Taitoverkko (no longer in operation)
2000 Taito Shop chain and Taito Myymälät Oy
2016 Taitoliitto becomes the marketing name of the association and the organisation is called Taitojärjestök
2020 Taitoliitto is accredited as an expert on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage

Further information: Ylönen, Irene. 2003. Irene Ylönen, Irene. Irene Ylönen, ‘Handicrafts and Crafts Association Taito ry’.

The Finnish Museum of Crafts Craftstories website

Craftstories is a craft database where we collectively build up knowledge about the history and present of craft. You can also find out about the history of Taito and Taito magazine.