Federal Association of Arts and Crafts
The Bundesverband Kunsthandwerk - Berufsverband Handwerk Kunst Design e. V. (BK) is an interest group for the German arts and crafts and the professional association for arts and crafts.
The association was founded in 1938 as the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft des Deutschen Kunsthandwerk e. V. “and today works nationally in Germany as well as internationally for the economic and cultural promotion of contemporary arts and crafts and applied arts.
In November 2012, almost 700 artisans belonged to the BK. The membership consists of craftsmen, designers and freelance artists. Organizationally, the BK consists of people, state and regional associations of handicrafts and applied arts and a circle of friends. A jury of experts decides on the admission of artisans to the professional association.
The Bundesverband Kunsthandwerk works as an independent, non-governmental organization. At the international level, the BK is represented by membership in the European section of the World Crafts Council (WCC), which in turn is a member of WCC International , the world association of arts and crafts.