When your culture faces marginalisation and invisibility, art can be a way for you to express your cultural identity and take pride in your people's traditions. Many of the world's cultures are in danger of disappearing due to global economic forces, but sharing their art provides a way for people of endangered cultures to connect with organisations that want to help.
The International Folk Market, the largest market of its kind in the world, seeks to tackle the challenges that folk artists face and empower them in the global art marketplace. For fifteen years, the Santa Fe market has helped connect artists with buyers and has funded clean drinking water, education for girls, and improved health care in vulnerable communities.
The International Folk Art Market brings creators from a great variety of cultures together. The Market shows off the talent, technique and beauty of artistic traditions that are too precious to disappear. Much of the knowledge involved in folk art has been passed down from generation to generation, just as grandmothers in the West might pass on their knitting knowledge to their grandchildren. Not only is folk art an important part of many artists' identity, it is also a growing industry in the developing world and may hold the key to positive social change. Artists need a thriving market to sustain their livelihoods and support themselves and their families.
More than 150 artists will be exhibiting their art at this year's International Folk Art Market, having travelled thousands of miles from 60 different countries. Many of the artists help to support their entire community with income from the event, meaning that artistic traditions can continue. Our own founder, Polly Leonard will be attending the event this year, which takes place from 13 - 15 July 2018 at Museum Hill, Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM.
For more information, visit www.folkartmarket.org/2018events