The Market is extraordinary in many ways, and while this can’t be expressed fully in statistics, the numbers do tell a compelling story. Here are some details from last year’s market (2009):
Artists Participation
The Market had 369 applicants. There were 123 artists from 46 different countries across 6 continents“”5 new countries including Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Jamaica, Morocco, and Namibia and 2 Palestinian Territories.
More than half of the artists were first-timers to the Market. Thirty-eight artists’ cooperatives (or 1/3 of all artists’ booths) from India, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Mexico, Zambia, and more also participated. Dealers and private businesses sponsored 14% of the booths, and the remaining artists came on their own or were sponsored by non-profit organizations, foundations or individuals. The Market was able to fully sponsor 22 artists and their interpreters (covering airfare, food, and lodging) through the generosity of individual contributions and private foundations.
Attendance
23,400 people attended (a 14.6% increase over 2008). More than half of attendees (60%) came from outside of Santa Fe from 31 different states and 7 foreign countries. International dignitaries and governmental representatives from Indonesia, Oman, Spain, Ecuador, and France visited as well.
Artists’ Sales
Artists’ sales decreased slightly by 3.8% from the 2008 Market– from just over $2 million to $1.95 million. The average sales per booth amounted to $15,100. Artists retain 90% of their sales. Revenues earned support their livelihoods and their families and helps sustain entire communities.
Community Volunteers
A corps of over 1,500 dedicated volunteers helped create this event, a 45.6% increase over the 2008 Market. Volunteers were involved in nearly every facet of the Market, dedicating close to 17,000 of hours of work towards planning, overseeing, and executing artist coordination, hospitality, marketing, events, office assistance, and Market production. The dollar value of volunteer time dedicated to the 2009 Market is estimated at $792,970.
Economic Impact
Out-of-town visitors (who stayed in hotels, motels, and B&Bs) stayed on average 3.52 nights and generated approximately $470,785 in lodger’s tax and gross receipts tax from room nights alone. GRT from artists’ sales totaled $152,259 combined with tax revenue from room nights totals $623,044 in tax revenue. This represents an 17.4% increase over 2008. We estimate overall economic impact to the city and state from out-of-town visitors on lodging and additional spending as well as from taxes on artists’ sales at $14.5 million.