Craft Hub planned for County Meath

Announcing Meath Partnership’s intention to invest in the creation of Meath’s first dedicated Craft Hub, Michael Ludlow remarked that “we have a vibrant yet somewhat dispersed and under-serviced craft sector." They will provide workshop space display areas, visitor facilities and demonstration areas to promote the traditional and modern crafts available throughout the county.

Consultations and conversations with many of key producers in the craft sector and contact from many young graduates with newly realised skills, the picture in terms of the sector’s support requirements is clearly emerging. Individual craft workers struggle to make a visible and sustained impact on the retail tourism market citing a lack of any county-wide marketing strategy, support or affordable routes to market available to them.  There is an expressed need for business and entrepreneurship training geared specifically towards the sector and including advice on product development and how to turn their craft skills into viable businesses, without compromising the passion for the craft.

“Seed-funding support and suitable premises are also cited as barriers to developments” however we at Meath Partnership believe that the craft sector offers real opportunities for tourism through the development of craft related workshops and it is on that basis that we are investing in this feasibility project” stated Mary Corrigan, Projects Officer.

Over the past two years, LEADER has received enquiries from individual craft workers to establish craft hubs, but ultimately the financials required to make it happen as a single trader have not stacked up, however we believe a collective approach working directly with the sector will identify potential to develop a Craft hub for the County or indeed a series of mini craft hubs depending on need, viability and market potential. Over the next six months, we will be out and about throughout the county, exploring all options for the development of the Hub and will be in contact with all relevant stakeholders to bring forward a dynamic, vibrant and viable model for the development of a Craft Hub to County Meath. For more information, contact the office on 046 9280790.

Maximise your Creative Business Training