Calling all Craft Artisans!
Following on from the successful three year Northern Periphery Programme project entitled “Économusée Craft International” Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) is one of seven European partners involved in Craft Reach; funded by Interreg VB Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme 2015-2018. Over the next three years the Craft Reach project will build on the success and on the experience gained from Économusée Craft International to develop new Economusées in the Causeway Coast and Glens and test services to help create socio-economic opportunities in the rural communities which will in turn create new and enhanced visitor, employment and business development opportunities.
The project will help quality craft businesses grow and prosper in rural areas by improving their business models, applying them as focal points in the local community and as inspiration for young people. The project reaches out to a wider part of the local community, but retains the artisan at its centre.
CCGHT are seeking artisans to join the Economusée network. The Economusée concept comes from Québec, Canada. Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, Limavady, Scullion Hurls, Loughgiel and Steensons Jewellers, Glenarm are the first Economusée in the UK and are part of a family of seven in Ireland and seventy in the world. You will find more information about the Economusées concept and its members on www.economusee.eu.
An ÉCONOMUSÉE is a business which:
- Uses a traditional craft technique
- Produces traditional and/or contemporary products with cultural connotation
- Opens its doors to the public in order to promote its know-how and its craftspeople
- Has a site designed for the animation and interpretation of its production
- Aims to be completely economically independent through its business operations.
As a business you must meet these criteria or aim to meet these criteria to be considered as an Economusée.
If you feel that you meet the above criteria and are interested in being a part of this exciting craft tourism initiative or if you want to know more about the project, contact Maxime Sizaret (maxime@ccght.org) or Tiérna Mullan (Tierna@ccght.org) to receive an application pack. Please note that the deadline for application submission is Tuesday 18th August 2015.
Please note a shortlisting process will take place followed by a visit to potential workshops prior to appointing successful artisans.
