Funded Projects 2014-2020

As a result of the project, 21 new Économusées opened in the NPA and in Canada. These are living crafts business where the history of the company and the craft is demonstrated to visitors as part of an authentic experience of the artisans at work. The Économusée businesses are mostly private companies, who, by a cross-discipline 6-stage transformation process become self-sustainable and earn their living through increased visits and sales of the crafts products.

Artisans were assisted in making their businesses more noticeable. The changes improved visitors´ experience and contributed to an increased number of tourists. SMEs have developed e.g. new road signs, posters, guided tours, or re-built the workshops so the tourist could see the crafts´ production. After becoming a member of Économusée network, businesses can reach international markets. Being included in the Économusée website and brochure also helped artisans to promote their crafts.

Économusées are not meant to be visited only by tourists. The artisans involved in the project have tested several models of how Économusées can be attractive also for local visitors. Artisans have for example re-organized their workshops to have a small art gallery where local artists can exhibit, they organized concerts of local musicians in their workshops, hosted young artists from different regions, or collected stories from senior citizens to become a part of the Économusées story-telling.