UNESCO’s Award of Excellence Program at the Market

Monday, June 14, 2010
Posted by: Folk Art Market

UNESCO has been involved with the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market since its inaugural year in 2004 and was the first international agency to recognize the importance of the Market and its impact on the preservation and continuation of traditional arts.  This year, UNESCO’s Division of Cultural Expressions and Creative Industries is again providing funding for the Market to promote the Award of Excellence program at the 2010 Market.

The Award of Excellence for Handicrafts Program was established to encourage craft-workers to use traditional skills and materials to ensure the perpetuation of traditional knowledge and preserve cultural diversity, while promoting innovations to keep the products relevant and competitive.

By setting quality standards for handicrafts and raising international awareness, the Award program aims to strengthen the interest for these products, and helps place culture at the core of development. Capacity-building and promotional activities help artisans sustain a more viable livelihood and long-term employment.

The Market will help to promote the Award of Excellence program by involving and recognizing artisans who have received the Award from South Asia, Southeast Asia and West-Central Asia. 

New countries involved include China, Mongolia, and Korea.  Works including Chinese dolls (shown above) and embroideries, Korean kites, and Mongolian textiles, felted shoes and hats will be available at the Market.

Artists participating in the Market who have received the Award of Excellence in the past are listed on the UNESCO Award of Excellence page of our site here.  Be sure to visit their booths marked with a large yellow UNESCO Award of Excellence sign.

In addition, the United Nations has proclaimed 2010 the “International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.” The Folk Art Market is featured in their calendar of events to support that effort.