Santa Fe International Folk Art Market
Milner Plaza on Museum Hill,
off Camino Lejo
(505) 476-1197
Artists from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe trek to Santa Fe to sell their weavings, woodcarvings, pottery, paintings, beadwork, jewelry and so much more at the country's largest international folk art market. Whatever language you speak, this extraordinary event will move you to marvel at the range of ingenious creativity at work in the world. There's no better city to host the market than Santa Fe, the only place in the U.S. designated by U.N.E.S.C.O. as a Creative City of Design & Folk Art.off Camino Lejo
(505) 476-1197
WHEN: Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13
The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market
Returns for a Fourth Exciting Year!
July 14-15, 2007
"The International Folk Art Market is one hopping bazaar - a show of amazing scale and international reach transplanted to the high plains deserts and attended by dealers, collectors and sightseers rushing from artist to artist and finding some of the best folk art that exists."
--Hank Lee, The Folk Art Messenger
"Shows the best of folk art, not just from America, but from the entire planet."
-- Governor Bill Richardson
The largest international folk art market in the U.S. returns for its fourth straight year. With expected attendance of over 20,000, it is one of the highlights of the summer season in Santa Fe, known for its vibrant Indian and Spanish markets. Designated one of UNESCO's Creative Cities in 2005, the only North American city to be so honored, Santa Fe provides a uniquely supportive and beautiful setting for this meeting of artists, dealers, collectors and folk art enthusiasts.
In this era of globalization, when the word itself has become almost a synonym for homogenization and the erosion of indigenous identity, the Folk Art Market stands out as a beacon of hope committed to honoring, sustaining, and preserving traditional cultures. The Market itself does not receive any profits from sales of the artists' work and is sustained by charitable contributions, grants, entrance fees, and the support of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the City of Santa Fe.
This year's market will feature over 113 artists from 41 countries selected by a panel of expert jurors. The nations represented include China, Bhutan, Vietnam, India, Afghanistan, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Sudan, South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Poland, France, and many others. The artists will exhibit a huge array of arts and crafts ranging from embroidery, felt work, beading, jewelry and textiles, to clothing, leatherwork, wood carvings, paintings, pottery and more. As many of the vendors represent cooperatives and associations of artisans, the economic impact is enormous, affecting thousands more in villages and communities around the globe.
Many of the Market's artists grapple daily with political, social, and environmental challenges in their home countries. The Market not only offers them a chance to receive international recognition for their work, it also gives them the opportunity to learn how to make their skills economically viable over the long term. As in years past, just prior to the event there will be a 2-day intensive Training & Building Markets Program, funded by a grant from W. K. Kellogg Foundation. "This structured training program sets us apart from any other market in the world, says Market co-founder Judith Espinar. "It distinguishes us as more than a buying and selling market, but as one that invests in building artists' skills and moving them toward sustainability." This year, a special Trade Buyer's Showcase has been added to the roster of pre-Market events, with support from UNESCO, to allow retailers to place large-quantity orders from participating vendors, thereby providing them with both work and income long after they have gone home. The Showcase, along with the Training & Building Markets Program, are key to the Market's goal of helping artists achieve economic sustainability.
The brainchild of Judith Espinar, a former Peace Corps volunteer and fashion industry executive turned entrepreneur who has collected folk art for over 40 years, and Tom Aageson, the Executive Director of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, the Market offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience the arts and crafts of dozens of countries around the world that one might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit. With music from Putumayo World Music, as well as dance performances and other entertainment throughout the weekend, the Market is truly a multicultural, multilayered event that provides a unique opportunity for cross-cultural exchange, entertainment and education in a relaxed, joyous atmosphere. As Charlene Cerny, director emerita of the Museum of International Folk Art and the Founding Chair of the Folk Art Market says, "[It] is about so much more than just commerce; it is truly about cultural preservation. This market proves how, in the global economy, we can spend our dollars to make a palpable difference in the lives of people who are struggling to maintain long-held traditions that are often threatened by the realities that people face in developing countries. I believe that our market visitors area as hungry for this experience as they are for the items they tote home."
Returns for a Fourth Exciting Year!
July 14-15, 2007
"The International Folk Art Market is one hopping bazaar - a show of amazing scale and international reach transplanted to the high plains deserts and attended by dealers, collectors and sightseers rushing from artist to artist and finding some of the best folk art that exists."
--Hank Lee, The Folk Art Messenger
"Shows the best of folk art, not just from America, but from the entire planet."
-- Governor Bill Richardson
The largest international folk art market in the U.S. returns for its fourth straight year. With expected attendance of over 20,000, it is one of the highlights of the summer season in Santa Fe, known for its vibrant Indian and Spanish markets. Designated one of UNESCO's Creative Cities in 2005, the only North American city to be so honored, Santa Fe provides a uniquely supportive and beautiful setting for this meeting of artists, dealers, collectors and folk art enthusiasts.
In this era of globalization, when the word itself has become almost a synonym for homogenization and the erosion of indigenous identity, the Folk Art Market stands out as a beacon of hope committed to honoring, sustaining, and preserving traditional cultures. The Market itself does not receive any profits from sales of the artists' work and is sustained by charitable contributions, grants, entrance fees, and the support of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the City of Santa Fe.
This year's market will feature over 113 artists from 41 countries selected by a panel of expert jurors. The nations represented include China, Bhutan, Vietnam, India, Afghanistan, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Sudan, South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Poland, France, and many others. The artists will exhibit a huge array of arts and crafts ranging from embroidery, felt work, beading, jewelry and textiles, to clothing, leatherwork, wood carvings, paintings, pottery and more. As many of the vendors represent cooperatives and associations of artisans, the economic impact is enormous, affecting thousands more in villages and communities around the globe.
Many of the Market's artists grapple daily with political, social, and environmental challenges in their home countries. The Market not only offers them a chance to receive international recognition for their work, it also gives them the opportunity to learn how to make their skills economically viable over the long term. As in years past, just prior to the event there will be a 2-day intensive Training & Building Markets Program, funded by a grant from W. K. Kellogg Foundation. "This structured training program sets us apart from any other market in the world, says Market co-founder Judith Espinar. "It distinguishes us as more than a buying and selling market, but as one that invests in building artists' skills and moving them toward sustainability." This year, a special Trade Buyer's Showcase has been added to the roster of pre-Market events, with support from UNESCO, to allow retailers to place large-quantity orders from participating vendors, thereby providing them with both work and income long after they have gone home. The Showcase, along with the Training & Building Markets Program, are key to the Market's goal of helping artists achieve economic sustainability.
The brainchild of Judith Espinar, a former Peace Corps volunteer and fashion industry executive turned entrepreneur who has collected folk art for over 40 years, and Tom Aageson, the Executive Director of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, the Market offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience the arts and crafts of dozens of countries around the world that one might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit. With music from Putumayo World Music, as well as dance performances and other entertainment throughout the weekend, the Market is truly a multicultural, multilayered event that provides a unique opportunity for cross-cultural exchange, entertainment and education in a relaxed, joyous atmosphere. As Charlene Cerny, director emerita of the Museum of International Folk Art and the Founding Chair of the Folk Art Market says, "[It] is about so much more than just commerce; it is truly about cultural preservation. This market proves how, in the global economy, we can spend our dollars to make a palpable difference in the lives of people who are struggling to maintain long-held traditions that are often threatened by the realities that people face in developing countries. I believe that our market visitors area as hungry for this experience as they are for the items they tote home."