• Master
    27 Oct 2016, 9:27 p.m.

    The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship is a new international non-profit set up by Richemont to defend the métiers d’art, against the future.

    “We are living on the cusp of tremendous systemic change,” Founder Johann Rupert explains. He’s referring to the progress and seemingly never ending potential brought to us by globalization, the digital revolution and artificial intelligence.

    Then there’s the flip side, which is a bit bleaker according to Rupert:

    “But they also carry the threat of increasing unemployment and social inequality. Our foundation seeks to redress some of these alarming unintended impacts. These forces also threaten to eclipse singular human skills and centuries of culture and know-how, and we want to make sure that this precious heritage doesn’t get left behind.”

    For more of this story reported today, visit: www.europastar.com/news/1004089064-richemont-duo-starts-foundation-for-master.html

    This new venture, in my opinion, will also strengthen the high end watchmaking trade which has to contend with smartwatches at least for a while.

    Regards,
    Jack Freedman

  • Master
    28 Oct 2016, 10:10 p.m.

    It sounds like a worthwhile initiative. Ultimately, the consumer will decide to what extent these talents will survive. I hope they do but unless the products create the demand, the craftmanship will be lost.