OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
TYPE OF ACTIVITIES:
3. Involvement to the needs of target groups
3.3. Best practices in the Social Economy from other EU countries Four other models of good practices in social economy are presented
3.3.1. House of Art/ Artisan Association 1. Brief description and activities
3.3. Best practices in the Social Economy from other EU countries Four other models of good practices in social economy are presented hereinafter. They were initiated in other EU member states, thus completing the previous image on the good practices in social economy in Greece.
3.3.1. House of Art/ Artisan Association 1. Brief description and activities
The Artisans Association of Sao Pedro do Sul (a non‐profit organisation) was formed in 1999 by eight local artisans from the region, with the support of the City council of Sao Pedro do Sul and the Fight against Poverty Project ʺSerra Nostraʺ project (a project supported by ESF).
Prior to the formation of the association (between 1997 and 1999) three training courses (on weaving, tile painting and ʺworks in rootsʺ ‐ i.e.
sculptures prepared in tree roots) were carried out in the framework of the Fight against Poverty ʺSerra Nostraʺ project. Six of the students who participated at the training courses, joined by two other craftsmen later created the Artisan Association, with the active participation of the City Council of Sao Pedro do Sul and Vila Maior Social Center.
Table 19 House of Art/ Artisan Association
NAME OF THE
ORGANIZATION: House of Art/ Artisan Association from Sao Pedro do Sul
LOCATION: Spain
YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT: 2002
LEGAL STATUS: Non-governmental organization
AIM: To promote local products and create new ways of selling and distributing them
TARGET GROUPS: Women (employed and unemployed)
The main objective of the Artisan Association is to promote local products and create new ways of selling and distributing them. In the initial period of its operation the project was based in Solar da Lapa, in the premises of the Fight against Poverty project, where products such as weave and tiles were made. These artisan products were sold in fairs and in the
ʺkiosksʺ of spas. However, this way of selling products became difficult
due to the long‐distance transportation of products to fairs.
The House of Art project aims to recover the old railway station building, which holds a strong architectural and historical value, in order to provide the Artisan Association with a workspace. The inside area has been remodelled in a way to provide spaces for exhibitions, reception, small bar and kitchen, pantry, administrative services, sanitarium and ateliers for tile painting, basketry and weaving workshop (with four looms). At the same time the facade and roof of the building have also been renovated and the area surrounding the building has been rearranged.
2. Target groups
The main target group is mostly women (employed and unemployed) and also other local people in need.
3. Involvement in the needs of the target groups
This project aims to provide the association with new working space, through the conversion of the old railway station in the village. The converted railway station building provides working place for several local people (mainly local women).
4. Concrete outputs
The main results of the action include:
• The maintenance of 5 jobs (women working in the kitchen, making local sweets and women providing administrative services) and the creation of 3 new jobs (for unemployed women);
• The creation of a space for the preparation, exhibition and commercialisation of the local products (craft, traditional cakes and sweets);
• The restoration and utilisation of the abandoned old railway station building that has enormous architectural and historical value;
• Sustainable results and creation of new local values with the use of endogenous resources;
• Contribution to the revitalisation of traditional activities and crafts and arts products (basketry, honey, ceramic, works in cork and wood, decoration objects ‐ such as small model houses made of schist, candles and tapestry – and tile‐painting);
• Contribution to the strengthening of the tourism industry in the local area, through the promotion of local craft. Products in national and international fairs, and through synergies with the activities of Termas of Sao Pedro do Sul (health and spa, care treatments and recreation activities) ‐ the tourist train of Sao Pedro do Sul has now stops at the Station of Arts and Flavours;
• Promoting equal opportunities through providing job opportunities for women.
5. Why is it a good practice?
The project has been initiated by local artisans (who promoted this project idea for several local stakeholders, including the LAG, City hall of Sao Pedro do Sul, ASSOL, Sao Pedro do Sul Workcenter and other companies), so it utilised a bottom‐up approach and encouraging business initiatives.
In addition, the conversion and restoration of the old building into the Arts and Flavours Station receives support from the City Council and
ADDLAP (Association of Development Dao, Lafues e Alto Paiva). The strong partnership of local stakeholders played important role to the success of the project. It promotes complementarily of assistance provided by other actions and policies implemented at local level. It is an action which promotes social entrepreneurship by taking into account integrated and multidisciplinary projects and also it enhances local economic and social development:
• The City Hall of S. Pedro do Sul offers premises in Termas for selling the products produced.
• The Fight against Poverty Project provided some of the equipment, (e.g. for the cakes and sweets making activities).
• Sao Pedro do Sul Workcenter has been involved through its ʺJob Creationʺ program”.
• ASSOL and Compozela supplied of candles and compotes;
artisans produced the local crafts products.
• The farmers of Oliveira of Frades, Sao Pedro do Sul and Vouzela provided ingredients for sweet production.
Finally, the project has managed to combine local resources in an innovative way:
• turning profitable an old railway station building and at the same time ensuring the survival of local artisan activities.
• creation of business project owned only by local women.
• contributing to the success of local tourism activities.
Table 20 Accomplishment of the good practice criteria 5
Innovation √
Bottom – up approach √
Complementarity √
Sustainability √
Encouraging business initiatives √
Tranferability/ Replicability √
3.3.2. Ealing Community Transport (ECT)