The Association des Luthiers et Archetiers pour le Développement de la Facture Instrumentale du Quatuor, Aladfi, was founded in 1982 under the impetus of a group of luthiers and bow makers, both restorers and makers, united by a desire to offer a different approach to the craft, to make their work known to musicians, to promote contemporary instrument making and to encourage the practice of music.
Promoting contemporary instrument making :
The militant organisation of exhibitions of contemporary instrument making and participation in trade fairs, notably Musicora, in the unique form of collective stands, will enable Aladfi to develop and structure itself around the values of sharing and exchange between members as well as with musicians.
Over the course of its development, the association has gradually taken on board all aspects of the profession, covering all the specific activities involved in this trade (manufacture, maintenance-repair, restoration and appraisal).
It has thus become a representative organisation for our professions and a recognised and respected interlocutor with public institutions.
Initial training :
From the outset, the association has been involved in thinking about and supporting training for the luthier and bow maker professions. It played a key role in the renovation of the diplomas and the introduction of the new DMA in 2000. Since then, it has been involved in the life of the school of violin making, its recruitment, examination boards and the recent development of curricula and diplomas.
Continuing education :
In 1985, the association brought its members together at a château in Anjou for the first weekend of meetings, conferences and professional exchanges. This was to be the start of our famous annual conference in Sainte-Cécile, which has continued to grow in size and number of participants.
In 2004, Aladfi launched its first continuing education courses in partnership with the Vienne Chamber of Trade, before rapidly becoming an independent training organisation. Over the past 20 years, several hundred luthiers and bow makers have taken part in specialised training sessions, almost all of which are eligible for funding thanks to our Qualiopi accreditation.
Editions :
In 2006, the association published its first book, Traité de lutherie by François Denis, of which more than 2,000 copies have been distributed worldwide. A second book was published in 2016, Nicolas Lupot, l’âge d’or de la lutherie française (Nicolas Lupot, the golden age of French violin making), a reference work which lists some thirty major instruments by this emblematic maker and some of his contemporaries.
Conservation of resources:
The association has been working for many years to conserve resources and materials, and is strongly committed to the study and development of wood in partnership with the CSFI (Chambre Syndicale de la Facture Instrumentale) and other specific associations such as IPCI Europe, Initiative Arbres et Musique, etc.
It advocates sustainable use and virtuous practices.
Aladfi currently has around 190 members throughout France and abroad.