Économusée – Artisans at Work
The definition of Économusée is ‘working museum’- more recognisable as Artisans at work.
The Économusée concept was developed in Québec and involves partners from Canada, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Haiti, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Économusée project provides a network for artisans to develop and combine culture, craft and tourism, creating an economic interacting platform from which these artists can encourage the promotion and development of traditional crafts, involving local communities and creating new job opportunities, in some instances allowing younger family members to share, develop and enhance the crafts and techniques of their ancestors.
In Phase II the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) launched three Économusée workshops: Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil in Limavady, Scullion Hurls in Loughgiel and Steenson’s Jewellers in Glenarm. By visiting the Économusée artisan workshops, tourists and locals will gain an enhanced experience, learn about the history of the craft and the business, the enthusiasm of the artist along with the added opportunity of meeting the artisans face to face and discovering the beauty and authenticity of the products made and sold onsite.
Phase III of the Économusée project began in April 2015 and was funded by Interreg VB Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme 2014-2020.
Between April 2015 and March 2018 Phase III, namely Craft Reach, built on the success and on the experience gained from Économusée Craft International (Phase II) to develop new Économusée artisans in the Causeway Coast and Glens area. There are currently more than 125 artisans across these 8 countries.
The main objective is to develop services to support and foster local small businesses in order for them to not only survive, but to prosper.
Within Phase III Ursa Minor Bakehouse Ballycastle, Broughgammon Farm, Ballycastle and Hillstown Brewery, Ahoghill were selected in August 2015 to join the Network and were officially launched as an Économusée in 2017.
With financial assistance from both Causeway Coast & Glens and Mid & East Antrim Borough Councils and Tourism NI, CCGHT were able to work with North Coast Smokehouse in Ballycastle , Hot Milk Forge in Martinstown, Audrey Kyle Art in Islandmagee, the Creamery Can in Glarryford in 2019, Gobbins Crafts in Islandmagee in 2021 and The Chocolate Manor in Castlerock in 2022 to develop them as the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth Économusée in N.Ireland. Fidela Coffee Roastery in Coleraine joined the network in April 2023 bringing the total number of Économusée developed in Northern Ireland to thirteen**.
**Please note: As of 2022 Scullion Hurls and Hillstown Brewery Économusée are no longer part of the Économusée Network, taking the number of Économusée artisans operating in NI to eleven**
Économusée workshops are open all year round with artisans offering tailored individual and pre-booked group tours and are an ideal suitable wet weather attraction.
Each Économusée artisan has their own story to share; this is illustrated with storyboards, carefully mapped throughout the workshops to capture the journey, the history, craft and skill of the artist.
The Économusée network offer business support and training to help these small rural artisans to grow and maintain a reasonable income from their craft whilst promoting cultural heritage and sustaining traditional skills.
Our Économusée Artisans
Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil
Nestled among the yellow fields of Oilseed rape in Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you will find Broglasco Farm, home of Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil. Behind every bottle is a wealth of history. This local product, grown on the field where the Broighter Hoard was found, along with the colour of the cold pressed oilseed rape gives the product a brand image.
The Broighter Hoard or now more commonly known as the Broighter Gold, is a hoard of gold artifacts from the Iron Age of the 1st century BC found in 1896 in a field close by Broglasco Farm. The hoard included a 7-inch-long (18 cm) gold boat, a gold torc and bowl and other jewellery
At the Broighter Gold ÉCONOMUSÉE workshop, both Leona and Richard work hard all year to produce a premium product. Come and uncover the process involved in the production of the award-winning Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil. Upon your arrival to the Broighter Gold workshop you will see the oilseed rape transformed into a crystal clear golden liquid. Wander through the exhibition area and explore the historical connection to the Broighter Hoard and discover the Characteristics of Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil.
Learn more about the inspiration behind Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil and the local restaurants that use the Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil in their restaurants.
Take home a bottle of award winning Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil and enjoy all the health benefits in the comfort of your own kitchen. Why not treat yourself or surprise someone with a locally produced gift. There is something for all to enjoy.
Opening Hours:
Monday- Wednesday 10am-5pm
Thursday & Friday 10am-1pm
Saturday- Bookings only
ALL GROUP VISITS MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE VIA EMAIL OR TELEPHONE (Fees apply)
Facilities: Parking available, toilets, no pets allowed.
Contact Details:
80 Broighter Road
Limavady
BT49 9DY
Mobile: 004479 1207 6607
Website: www.broightergold.co.uk
Email:info@broightergold.com
Scullion Hurls (*Please note Scullion Hurls Économusée visitor experience is no longer a member of the Économusée Network*)
Steensons Jewellers
Steensons Jewellers are located in the village of Glenarm, nestled in the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For three decades the Steensons have been hand crafting their distinctive jewellery in the picturesque village of Glenarm, the first of the Glens of Antrim, along the famous Causeway Coastal Route.
Steensons was established by husband and wife team Bill and Christina Steenson after they graduated in Silversmithing from the University of Ulster. They brought an imaginative and fresh approach to jewellery in Ireland, putting their strong contemporary designs on show and to their delight found that visitors loved them.
Having enjoyed nearly forty years at the bench, Bill and Christina have handed over the reins to daughter Brona . Brona graduated from the Art college and joined the family business as a trainee in 2001. Her passion for strong design and enthusiasm for integrating new technologies with the traditional craft techniques sets her in good stead for carrying Steensons into the future.
From atmospheric landscape pieces in the seventies, bold geometrics of the eighties, minimalist nineties, to the softer organic feel of the new millennium, the ethos of the business remains as strong today as it was then, to be innovative in design whilst producing the highest standard of craft.
Visitors can watch the Goldsmiths at work using traditional techniques and cutting edge technology, forming elegant contemporary designs from silver, gold, platinum and precious gems.
Visitors have the opportunity to learn about the art of jewellery making, the rich historical design heritage, the origins of gemstones, the link to the American hit tv series “The Game of Thrones”and more.
Opening Hours: Monday- Saturday 9am-5pm
Group bookings should be arranged by phoning in advance.
Contact Details:
Seaview Hall
New Road
Glenarm
BT44 0AA
Tel: (028) 2884 1445
Website: www.thesteensons.com
Broughgammon Farm
Broughgammon Farm located just outside the seaside town of Ballycastle is a forward thinking family farm with a deep rooted
drive for sustainability. It is this ethos that has led Broughgammon to specialise in kid-goat, free range rose veal and seasonal wild game.
These are traditionally craft butchered here on the farm into a range of artisan products. They are available direct from the farm-shop, face to face
at farmer’s markets, from the street food trailer, online, or from restaurants, shops and delis further afield.
It is their dedication and drive to their ‘forward thinking’ sustainable ethos that has made them award winning and brought the ‘farm to fork’ local food experience into the future.
The Broughgammon story began when Robin and Millie Cole took over the farm in 2002, as an idyllic smallholding to retire to. The Coles
built their eco-friendly farmhouse here in 2006. The Cole’s eldest son, Charlie, returned to Broughgammon in 2011 to run the farm
commercially, with the same environmental and sustainable credentials. The farm is still run by two generations of the family – Robin and Millie, son Charlie and his wife Becky.
The Cole family welcome tours and encourage visitors to stop off at their farm to hear what inspired them to produce goat meat and discover the craftsmanship involved in the butchery process.
Opening Hours: Contact Broughgammon for updated opening hours
Tuesday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Farm Fridays 11am-4pm (Farm & Cafe open)
Farmshop/Cafe open Sundays 11am-4pm
Contact Details:
50 Straid Road,
Ballycastle,
Antrim,
BT54 6NP
Tel: 00447976270465
E-mail: info@broughgammon.com
Hillstown Brewery
(***Please note Hillstown Brewery Économusée visitor experience is no longer a member of the Économusée Network)
Ursa Minor Bakehouse
The Ursa Minor story began on the other side of the world. Founders Ciara and Dara O hArtghaile discovered delights like sourdough loaves and friands while living for a year in New Zealand. They returned home to Ballycastle determined to keep those tastes alive. Inspired by New Zealand’s café culture, the duo set about bringing fresh, seasonal bread and sweet bakes to Northern Ireland’s north coast.
Both are self-taught bakers. Dara learned how to create sourdough by trial and experimentation, investigating flavour combinations to feed to friends and family, until he felt he had mastered the craft. Before founding Ursa Minor, Ciara had been baking all her life at home with her family. She now specialises in sweet bakes, in particular her adored friands, first tasted in New Zealand.
This husband and wife team, Dara and Ciara, were both raised on the north coast. They looked to their home town of Ballycastle when they became serious about their potential artisan bakehouse.
The duo founded Ursa Minor in 2014, producing small batches of hand-crafted bread and patisserie.
The bakehouse is a lifestyle business for the couple, involving extended family and the local community. Keen to keep the business on a sustainable scale, the finished products have very low transport miles and are exclusively available in this area of the north coast.
Ursa Minor, which is Latin for little bear, refers to the name the couple gave their son before he was born. Naming the bakehouse in his honour hints at the family roots of this artisan business.
The name also reveals the couple’s starry hopes for the business. Ursa Minor is a constellation that includes the brightest star in the sky – the North Star.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday- Saturday 10am-4pm
Contact Details:
45 Ann Street
Ballycastle
BT54 6AA
Web: http://www.ursaminorbakehouse.com
Email: ursaminorbakehouse@gmail.com
Tel: 004479 5519 2389
North Coast Smokehouse
Ruairidh Morrison & Melanie Brown met each other half way around the world in New Zealand. Ruairidh is from the Scottish Hebridean Isle of Islay, visible from the coast here, and Melanie is from Ballycastle.
They instantly saw in each other a fellow soul from the ancient sea-faring Kingdom of Dalriada, which encompasses the North Coast of Co. Antrim, the Scottish Islands and part of the Scottish mainland. Both share a deep sense of belonging to its breath-taking landscapes and an appreciation of the simplicity that can be found here (if you know where to look).
They made a conscious decision to return here to be closer to family and to raise their children. They saw it as the perfect opportunity to start our own business and bring something new to the area.
Ruairidh always had a notion he’d like to have a salmon-smoking business. It seemed like the obvious next step after managing salmon farms in Scotland and New Zealand, followed by time working in a fish pathology laboratory. He learned how to smoke food in New Zealand where it is relatively common. Enthusiastic friends and dinner guests encouraged him to believe that his home-smoked salmon was worth selling. So, North Coast Smokehouse was born!
Opening Hours:
Generally open weekdays—sometimes out collecting fish or making deliveries so please ring ahead to avoid disappointment. (Weekends by appointment)
Tours and workshops by appointment.
Please contact us to arrange your visit or check our website for details of events.
Contact Details:
3/61 Leyland Road
Ballycastle
Co Antrim
BT54 6EZ
Web: www.northcoastsmokehouse.com
Email: info@northcoastsmokehouse.com
Tel: +44 (0)78 3540 3340 / +44 (0)78 3540 3339
Hot Milk Forge
Hot Milk Forge is a Blacksmithing and Bladesmithing School based in Glenravel, the gateway to the infamous Glens of Antrim. Following years of travelling and working abroad Eamon Higgins, a renowned artist and blacksmith returned to his family’s farm to establish the forge in 2003. Hot Milk Forge runs evening, weekend and day classes in basic to advanced Artist Blacksmithing and Bladesmithing. Evening classes are open to everyone above the age of 16.
Mandatory Credit -Brian Little/Presseye
Belfast Telegraph story by Stephanie Bell
Eamonn Higgins, Hot Milk Forge Artist Blacksmith School, Martinstown Ballymena.
Picture by Brian Little/Presseye
Participants are encouraged to learn the traditional skills not just because the celebration of wrought iron work is a worthy idea but also because only blacksmithing can introduce you to the full potential of steel as a creative medium. At Hot Milk Forge blacksmiths weld with fire, not electricity. Imagine making your own fire side set, wrought iron gate, gifts for your partner, sculpture…. the list goes on.
Opening Hours:
By Appointment only,
Weekend, Day and Evening Classes in Black/Bladesmithing and
Bowmaking can be booked via the website www.hotmilkforge.com
Contact:
22 Lisnamanny Road, Martinstown
Ballymena BT43 6QH
Tel: 07740510008
Email: hotmilkforge@gmail.com
Web: www.artistblacksmithschool.com
Audrey Kyle Art
Although Audrey is a watercolour artist who always enjoyed art, she began learning watercolour technique with Paul Holmes; a local Irish landscape artist after the birth of her second child in 2009.This has now developed into an occupation since creating her own unique style which results in requests for her to sell her work. Audrey was accepted as a full member to the ASU in 2014. In November 2018 she converted an old stone barn into her studio/gallery and now invites visitors by appointment.
Living on a farm situated on the top of the Gobbins cliffs Audrey gets much of her inspiration from the beauty of nature and the changing of the seasons. She loves nature and wildlife and is at her happiest when surrounded with the natural world. Islandmagee is a peninsula so the sea plays a big part in her life and skies are forever changing around the studio. No two days are the same. She runs the family farm so loves the outdoors.
She loves to pick quirky scenes and transfer them to a page. Favourite images include the Irish hare and lighthouses. A favourite colour to paint with is indigo and she paints in a loose style using bold colours. Audrey loves local folklore, after all she grew up in the witches’ house and lives at the top of a cliff where there are caves, fairy trees and sightings of sea monsters and mermaids! This inspiration puts a magical quality into her work. Her images have been described as making people feel happy and her work has a simple delightful quality to it.
Opening Hours:
By Appointment only
Contact Audrey directly to find out opening hours
Contact:
Gobbins Stables
147 Gobbins Road
Islandmagee
BT40 3TX
Tel: 07712464966
Email: audreykyleart@gmail.com
Web: www.audreykyleart.com
The Creamery Can
The Creamery Can Coffee shop at Dundermot Farm was launched as an Économusée in December 2019 for their artisan ice cream business. The Creamery Can is a working family farm with a coffee shop and ice cream workshop. The whole concept of The Creamery Can coffee shop was birthed out of a desire to take a love of home cooked food, enjoyed with friends and family, from the kitchen table to the wider community.
The Creamery Can coffee shop, which opened in 2014, and the ice cream workshop were once old barns on the family farm. After being sympathetically renovated a few years ago, they are now a unique part of this thriving artisan business which boasts a quirky interior décor with restored oak beams and fantastic views of the Glarryford countryside.
Tours are available for parties of 10 up to 30 people.
At these, our guests will have the opportunity to see the ice cream production area and to learn how our ice-creams and sorbets are made, as well as hearing more about our story as a family business. There is always opportunity for some hands-on participation and of course some sampling! The tours always finish in style with each our guests enjoying a spectacular homemade ice-cream sundae.
Opening Hours:
By Appointment only
Contact Hugh directly on 07720464669 or email hugh.reid@hotmail.co.uk
Contact:
30 Station Road,
Glarryford,
Ballymena,
BT44 9RA
Tel: 07720464669
Email: hugh.reid@hotmail.co.uk
Web: www.thecreamerycan.com
Gobbins Crafts
Photo by Kaja Choma / Excalibur Press on behalf of the Storify My Business programme for Mid & East Antrim Council.
More info contact Tina Calder, Excalibur Press, 07305354209, tina@excaliburpress.co.uk
Gobbins Crafts offers a range of jewellery making classes for all abilities from a bespoke workshop in Islandmagee, on the breath-taking Causeway Coastal Route, which runs along the rugged coast and rolling glens of Northern Ireland between Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.
Heather transformed an old pig house next to her family home into a fully equipped studio and display gallery. In this relaxed, intimate setting she brings 30 years’ experience in teaching and goldsmithing to show others the skills of jewellery making.
After graduating from Art College in the 1980s, Heather specialised in goldsmithing to combine her love of sculpture and working with metals. In 2016 Heather founded Gobbins Crafts to share her passion for jewellery making with others.
Heather takes inspiration from a wide variety of sources from the fascinating anatomy of insects to literature, moving image and the environment that she lives in. Heather has a curiosity for a variety of techniques and materials which is reflected in her work.
THE WORKSHOP
During each beginner session, under Heather’s personal tuition, participants will be shown the basics of jewellery making and will go on to produce their own piece of sterling silver jewellery, a tangible and unique memory to take home.
Heather offers bespoke classes for intermediate and advanced skills as well as one to one tuition.
Contact Details
To reserve a jewellery making experience workshop or to discuss a bespoke workshop, check our website or contact Heather directly –
184 Gobbins Road,
Islandmagee,
Larne
BT40 3TX
Tel:+44 (0)28 933 82577
Email:heather@gobbinscrafts.com
Web:www.gobbinscrafts.com
The Chocolate Manor
The Chocolate Manor offers a range of chocolate making experiences for all abilities from a bespoke workshop and retail outlet in Castlerock, on the breath-taking Causeway Coastal Route.
From a modest home kitchen on the North Coast of Ireland Geri Martin started making chocolate and since then she has watched her business grow. In 2020, when the rest of the world stood still, The Chocolate Manor moved to a prominent position on Main Street in Castlerock. Geri, a skilled and passionate artisan chocolatier has worked with 5-star restaurants and some of the biggest names in the culinary industry to produce bespoke chocolates for special occasions. The Chocolate Manor has even had several commissions for members of the Royal Family.
THE CHOCOLATE JOURNEY begins in the Chocolate Shop and Artisan Food Emporium where, through a window, visitors can see the chocolatiers at work.
Chocolate is like a universal language, and for many the prospect of exploring the wonderful world of cocoa is an enticing prospect. The Chocolate Manor offers unique hands-on bespoke chocolate experiences, based in purposely refitted premises. Storyboards are dotted throughout the workshop allowing visitors to discover the history of the chocolate making process and the artisan chocolatier. They are invited to experience, experiment and indulge by adding distinctive and local flavours to create their own unique handcrafted chocolate treats.
CHOCOLATE IS GREAT FUN TO MAKE! With a range of scheduled and private workshops visitors can experience the joy and wonder of creating their own chocolate treats, expertly guided by Chief Chocolatier, Geri Martin.
If you’re looking for an engaging activity to share with family, friends or colleagues, or want to add artisan chocolate making to your Irish food experience, a visit to The Chocolate Manor is a must!
Contact Details
To reserve a chocolate making experience or to discuss a bespoke workshop, contact:
3 Main Street
Castlerock
Coleraine
BT51 4RA
Tel: 00447919332843
Email:geri@thechocolatemanor.com
Fidela Coffee
Fidela Coffee offers a range of coffee experiences for all abilities from their roastery and coffee shop in Coleraine, a harbour town with a history stretching back to the megalithic period.
This coffee journey began in Colombia in 2016 when founders of Fidela; Frank and Rachel, visited Frank’s family farms in the well-known coffee region Nariño and realised the exciting prospects of the coffee.
In 2017 Frank and Rachel set up their own coffee laboratory near their family farms in Colombia, enabling them to show farmers the results of their hard work at farm level. They take pride in educating the farmers and giving them a voice beyond the crop.
In 2019 Fidela Coffee Roasters was established in Coleraine.
Named after Frank’s grandmother Fidela, a pioneer in coffee farming in her local area, the Coleraine enterprise maintains the strong Colombian family connection by sourcing their coffee beans from the Nariño farms of their relatives and friends.
As part of their Fidela journey Frank and Rachel aim to import more green coffee; support more farmers and create new opportunities and markets for their crops.
As the Colombian coffee community continues to grow, they intend to provide training on coffee processes, cupping, and brewing techniques to empower the younger generations to sustain jobs on the farms for generations to come.
Every pour of Fidela Coffee illustrates Frank and Rachel’s unique blend of Coleraine & Colombian roots to provide dedication to an ethical, traceable coffee roasted in every cup.
They are passionate about all things coffee at Fidela and take great joy in sharing their knowledge with those who want to learn.
They offer a variety of classes to accommodate all ranging from;
Home Espresso Course– a 2-hour (approx.) experience ideal for people who are just starting their coffee journey and have a keen interest in learning what makes the perfect espresso at home.
It is also ideal for baristas who have been making coffee for a while but would like to improve their skills.
Home Brew Course– this 2-hour (approx.) experience will start with an explanation of the processes from plant to cup, and how each process can impact the finished brew
You’ll also leave with a Brew at Home booklet filled with coffee brewing recipes, great tips and tricks!
Latte Art Course– In this interactive course participants will learn how to steam the perfect pitcher of milk and cover some basic latte art designs. This Interactive course will last approximately two hours. The experience will briefly cover espresso preparation before exploring all things milk and latte art. This course is very hands on, with plenty of time spent practicing.
The Main focus will be how to steam and texture milk like your favourite barista.
Roastery tour and coffee tasting- “The Fidela Experience”
THE JOURNEY FROM FARM TO CUP
Join Fidela for an afternoon exploring the Journey that the coffee bean makes from the farms in Colombia to the roastery in Coleraine, before finishing up in your cup.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Roastery Tour
Let Fidela take you on a tour where we show you all the work that goes on behind the scenes, and the dedication to quality at every step. Learn how the work they are doing in Coleraine is making a difference for farmers in Colombia.
Coffee
Learn how the quality of Coffee is assessed according to SCA (Speciality Coffee Association) criteria. One of the trained baristas will take you through the cupping process, allowing you to experience how Fidela taste coffees here at the roastery to form tasting profiles.
Contact Details:
To book a Fidela coffee experience visit Our Coffee Courses – Fidela Coffee Roasters
9a Lower Newmills Road
Coleraine
BT52 2JR
Email: info@fidelacoffee.com
For more information on the Économusée project, the project partners and the Économusée artisans worldwide visit www.economusees.com
Keep up to date with all our Artisans by visiting our Économusée N.Ireland Facebook Page, our Économusée N.Ireland Twitter or our Économusée Artisans At work Instagram Page