 |
“(…) The positive reputation of the network and of the artisans who belong to it instils confidence in visitors and in the buyers of the artisans’ products.”
Maryse Tellier
What Is an ECONOMUSEUM®?
An ECONOMUSEUM® is a craft or agri-foods business whose products are the fruit of an authentic technique or know-how. The business showcases artisans and craft trades by offering an area for interpreting its production and by opening its doors to the public.
ECONOMUSEUM®, which are self-financed through the sale of their products, make an innovative contribution to the cultural tourism sector.
Respect for the 6 fundamental components of the concept:
- Reception:
- Presentation of membership in the ECONOMUSEUM® network.
- Space devoted to cultural heritage through the commemoration of a figure, craft, or savoir-faire, event, historical period or site.
- Permanent plaque indicating the partners associated in the development of the business.
- Visitor gathering area.
- Production workshops:
- Heart of the ECONOMUSEUM® where the craftsperson and/or his team produce contemporary objects drawing inspiration from traditional methods.
- Visitors must see the craftspeople at work to understand the production process.
- This area is equipped with educational tools suited to explaining the production process, techniques, and materials, and to providing other relevant information.
- Interpretation of objects from the past:
- Exhibition space showing visitors of all ages the creativity of the craftspeople from the past using documented traditional objects and texts explaining the various facets of the craft from a historical perspective.
- Interpretation of the contemporary production:
- Exhibition area for products, works or pilot-projects referring to the adaptation of traditional products from the past to contemporary needs.
- Reading, documentation and archives:
- Public area enabling visitors who want to learn more about the craft practised by the craftsperson to read and consult documentation.
- Boutique or salesroom:
- Space set aside for the sale of products made by the craftsperson as well as for associated merchandise.
All artisans interested in becoming a member of the ECONOMUSEUM® network must first meet the following eligibility criteria. Once this requirement has been met, the next step consists in submitting a business portfolio for further evaluation by the Société's selection committee.
The criteria are:
- be a private business in operation for more than three years;
- use a traditional technique or know-how to craft one’s products;
- make products of recognized quality;
- have the ability and the desire to innovate in one’s production;
- operate throughout the entire year and be open to the public for at least (4)four months a year, or accept to be open to the public for at least (4) four months a year;
- generate a turnover of more than seventy-five thousand dollars ($ 75 000) a year;
- show keen interest in welcoming visitors;
- be located on or near a previously identified tourist route or a tourist route under development;
- operate in buildings having the required space for setting up an ECONOMUSEUM® and welcome visitors, or intend to acquire the required space;
- operate on a site and in buildings of high quality.
|
|
