European Cultural Cooperation in Finding Best Practice for the Marketing and Promotion of Locally Made Craft & Design Product to the Cultural / Heritage Tourist Market.
Culture Programme Strand 1.2.1, expression of interest
Cultural / heritage tourism (that which relates to elements such as art, history and practice), brings opportunity to the local economy in the creative industries areas of contemporary and traditional craft and design. Locally made product should be one of the cornerstones of the economy in a cultural tourism area and a driver for increased employment and skills innovation / preservation with regards to the creative industries. Cumbria, situated in the North West of England uses cultural / heritage tourism as a key ingredient to its attract tourists through icons such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, and also though the counties abundance of artisan businesses.
To assist creative industries businesses in these EU regions to survive and grow in the tourism market, agencies and organisations from both public and private sectors should be on hand to create and maintain networks for these businesses and dispense information and guidance on how to approach the cultural / heritage tourism market.
By working cooperatively on a European basis and sharing best practice in the promotion and production of locally made product, cultural / heritage tourism areas can benefit both economically and socially whilst opening up potential new markets via partnership project working, exchange visits and reciprocal events.
Central Aims & Activities
• To identify cultural / heritage tourism areas across the EU and develop links with identified regions.
• To identify the role of locally made craft & design product in terms of adding value to the local tourism offer.
• To identify the synergies between cultural and heritage based tourism in partner countries.
• To identify strategies how regional organisations can effectively market and promote locally made product to the tourist market.
• To identify quality issues with locally made product.
• To investigate internet based marketing and sales of tourism orientated product.
• To review locations where these issues are tackled effectively.
• To act as a catalyst for job creation in cultural / heritage regions.
Outputs
• Sharing of good practice between European craft and design practitioners with regard to product design and marketing in the cultural and heritage tourism sectors via learning based exchange visits, specialist marketing workshops and web based information exchange.
• Sharing of good practice between craft ‘umbrella’ organisations in the facilitation of sales and marketing for craft businesses.
• The use of reciprocal sales based events between
partner countries and their practitioners to promote both a
sense of place and pan-European collaboration.
Additional Information
•Made in Cumbria / Cumbria County Council has had previous experience of European partner projects via ERDF, INTERREG and the EU Lifelong Learning Programme.
• Made in Cumbria has 21 years experience in providing practical business opportunities for Microbusinesses in the creative industries.
•Cumbria County Council operates and runs a Europe Direct Centre.
At this time, Made in Cumbria is looking for potential partners who would be willing to add their knowledge and expertise to shape the project. At a later stage, interested parties will determine the lead partner for the project.
Deadline for potential partners 31st April 2010.
Expression of interest can be sent to
Nik Schofield (Creative Development Officer)
Made in Cumbria / Cumbria County Council
Busher Walk
Kendal
Cumbria
England
LA9 4RQ
+44 (0)1539 713392
nik.schofield@madeincumbria.co.uk
www.madeincumbria.co.uk
www.cumbria.gov.uk