The role of passion in craftsmanship in Austria: How passion is preserved, transmitted and embodied in crafts across generations

Passion is a cornerstone of craftsmanship, driving dedication, excellence, and the refinement of skills. It inspires craftspeople to strive for mastery and ensures the preservation and transmission of craftsmanship through mentorship, fostering a cultural and historical understanding of the craft and fostering a sustainable craft culture. Despite its importance, traditional craftsmanship in Austria faces significant challenges, including an aging workforce and declining interest among younger generations. These issues are compounded by the pressures of technological advancement and market changes, which have confined crafts to niche markets. Academic studies on passion in craftsmanship, particularly in Austria, remain scarce. This study explored the multifaceted dimensions of passion within skilled trades. It aimed to examine perceptions of passion in Austrian craftsmanship, its sources and characteristics, and how it is passed from generation to generation and manifested explicitly in goods and services. The study used thematic content analysis and intensive interviewing to explore characteristics and sources of passion, how passion becomes visible and tangible for others and how is it passed on. The study's results found that passion is an all-encompassing connection between tradition, relationships, and sensory satisfaction. Craftsmen see their work as a lifelong journey because it transcends the demands of any single project or challenge, and this deeply felt personal approach is what they want to pass on to the next generation. Passion, according to interviews, is transferred primarily through model, story, and direct engagement in everyday labor. Each master craftsman lives and embodies his values, such as commitment, precision, creativity, and, most importantly, joy in craft-crafting their unspoken standard for apprentices to observe and absorb