Santa Fe International Folk Art Market facts for kids
The International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico is a special event. It happens every July. Artists from all over the world come to sell their amazing folk art. Santa Fe has other big markets too, like the Spanish Market and the Indian Market.
How the Market Started
A group of people started the Market in 2004. They wanted to help folk artists share their work. These founders included Judith Espinar, Thomas Aageson, Charlene Cerny, and Charmay Allred. Important groups like the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs also helped.
When it first opened in 2004, about 60 artists came. By 2008, the Market grew a lot! There were 125 artists from 41 different countries. The next year, 126 artists from 46 nations joined.
UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, helped a lot too. They gave money to help artists come. They also started a training program for artists in 22 countries. UNESCO even gives awards for excellent art. In 2008, most of the artists, about 97%, came from developing countries. These countries were in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The Market also helped train people in Africa. This was part of the W.K. Kellogg Intern Program. This program taught people how to create folk art markets in their own countries. Four arts professionals from Africa learned how to do this. They were Mahaliah Kowa, Chila Smith Lino, Nomvula Moshoai-Cook, and Jane Parsons.
Art for Global Awards
Former President Bill Clinton once asked three artists from the Market to create special prizes. These prizes were given out in 2009. They honored people and groups who helped others around the world. The artists were Serge Jolimeau and Michee Remy from Haiti, and Toyin Folorunso from Nigeria. Their art was made from recycled metals.
Market 2012 Highlights
In July 2012, the Market celebrated its ninth year. It was a very big event!
- 156 artists came from 54 different countries.
- Artists from Colombia, Hungary, South Sudan, South Korea, and Vanuatu joined for the first time.
- Many artists were part of groups that help thousands of other artisans.
- Almost 20,000 people visited the Market.
- Artists sold over $2.4 million worth of art.
- Artists got to keep 90% of the money from their sales. This helps them and their families a lot.
