There’s no survival without a market, meaning that commercial factors also play a key role in safeguarding traditional Cremonese luthiery expertise. Network institutions supporting local luthiers include the Chamber of Commerce, CremonaFiere and trade associations.
Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce is an independent body under public law whose mission is to develop the general interest of the business and economic system. As an institutional body and point of reference for the business world, it interprets the needs of the economic fabric and serves as a point of liaison and connection with other local authorities with a view to stimulating a consistent and coordinated territorial development process.
The luthiers in in this web site are all registered with the Chamber.
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CremonaFiere
CremonaFiere is the second-largest exhibition centre in Lombardy and boasts both covered and open-air exhibition areas and an operational conference centre suitable for all kinds of events.
The centre also organizes the annual CremonaMusica-Mondomusica, the world’s largest trade fair dedicated to high-end musical instruments.
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Confartigianato Imprese Cremona
Confartigianato is an employers’ association that protects micro-businesses and small enterprises with a range of business support services (business launches, launching of tenders, compulsory courses, etc.) and tax support (accounting, payroll, labour consultancy, etc.).
Confartigianato Imprese Cremona has had close ties to the city’s luthiery scene since the 1980s, when the Gruppo Liutai e Strumenti Musicali (Luthier and Musical Instrument Group) was set up thanks to the efforts of some well-established names such as masters Morassi, Conia, Scolari and Marchi.
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CNA Cremona
The CNA Cremona is the local branch of the National Confederation of Craftsmanship (CNA) and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. It is a representative association in that it represents the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises in Crema and Cremona at local, regional and national institutional level.
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‘Antonio Stradivari’ Consortium of Violin Makers
Along with the relevant trade associations, Cremona is home to a consortium of luthiers set up with the aim of promoting and enhancing contemporary Cremonese luthiery in keeping with the traditions of the craft. Its members consist of some sixty or so master luthiers from Cremona and the surrounding areas and its headquarters are located on the central Piazza Stradivari, where visitors can admire and play Cremonese instruments produced by the masters of the consortium, consisting of a wide range of bowed stringed instruments along with various accessories and specialist publications.
The showroom is open all year round.
