1. Green Jobs from a Small State Perspective
Saturday 29 October 2011 @ Hotel Juliani –
MALTA
The Artisan:
A Green Entrepreneur
Leonie Baldacchino The Edward de Bono Institute
leonie.baldacchino@um.edu.m University of Malta
t www.um.edu.mt/create
Christine Cutajar
christine.cutajar@nurisha.net

2. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
Aims
1.To show that artisans can be
sustainable entrepreneurs
2.To identify the threats and
challenges faced by artisans in
Malta
3.To make recommendations to
safeguard the survival and
sustainability of artisans in Malta

3. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
An Artisan is...
... a skilled person who creates items
of aesthetic and/or functional value,
mainly by manual labour

4. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
Sustainable Entrepreneurship is...
... Entrepreneurship which
is concerned with all three
pillars of sustainability (the
3Ps)...
...or with the
Triple Bottom Line

5. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
Artisans: Sustainable Entrepreneurs?
 Craft nurtures  Use of natural
cultural identity materials for craft
production
 Local skills and
knowledge are  Use of local
cherished and materials for craft
preserved production
 Provision of  Reduce, Reuse,
employment and Recycle
self-actualisation
opportunities
 Selling crafts for
financial gain

6. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
Challenges Faced by Artisans in Malta:
Insights from the Literature
 Open Systems Approach:
Double dose of vulnerability
 Small island state context
 Liability of Smallness

7. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
Challenges Faced by Artisans in Malta:
Insights from the Artisans (Preliminary Findings)
 Unfair competition from
foreign markets
 Lack of support from local
authorities
 Lack of interest from local
media and general public
 Fluctuations in tourist rates

8. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
Recommendations
 Introduce certification for genuine local
handmade crafts
 Promote genuine local handmade crafts
among Maltese buyers
 Create awareness about mass-produced
imported items of inferior quality
 Create favourable conditions and support
from local authorities to foster
sustainability in local craft production

9. © Leonie Baldacchino, Christine Cutajar, University of Malta, October 2011
01 October 2010
Future Research
 Conduct more extensive research to
identify needs, threats and
challenges faced by local artisans
 Investigate skills and strategies of
highly entrepreneurial artisans
 Study the role of innovation in
sustainable craft production

10. Green Jobs from a Small State Perspective
Saturday 29 October 2011 @ Hotel Juliani –
MALTA
Thank You
for your kind attention
Leonie Baldacchino The Edward de Bono Institute
leonie.baldacchino@um.edu.m University of Malta
t www.um.edu.mt/create
Christine Cutajar
christine.cutajar@nurisha.net