W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Market to Offer Unique Artists’ Training Programs and Cultural Exchange

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Contact: Clare Hertel
505-670-3090

Third-World Artisans Will Learn About Fair Pricing and Modern Marketing

SANTA FE, N. M. Thanks to a generous grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, more than 100 artists and translators from 26 countries will spend two days prior to the 2008 Santa Fe International Folk Art Market learning how to promote their work to shoppers, collectors and trade buyers, and also experiencing the art traditions of other cultures.

July 9: Culture Day

Artisans from New Mexico will meet with their counterparts from around the world to share techniques, inspiration and personal stories. For example:

• World-renowned Native American beader Teri Greeves will host Agnes Papatiti, a young, master beader from Kenya, who belongs to a cooperative of traditional Maasai beaders, Beads for Education, that has funded hundreds of educational programs for girls in Kenya.
• Chimayo weavers Lisa and Irvin Trujillo will teach a group of international wool weavers about northern New Mexico’s distinctive churro wool.
• Woodworkers from several continents will visit the studio of traditional santero artist Benjamin Lopez in Espanola and contemporary santero artist Cruz Lopez in Chimayo, to immerse themselves in the religious woodworking traditions and innovations of Northern New Mexico.

Media are welcome to attend these studio visits, with prior arrangement.

July 10: Training Workshops –

How to Organize a Co-op, taught by Nilda Callanaupa, who manages a thriving weaving cooperative in the Peruvian Andes.

The World of Good Pricing Workshop, during which participants will learn how to use World of Good’s online Fair Wage Guide to price their artworks so that artists receive a living wage.

Web Marketing, taught by Jan Zimmerman, the prominent author of Web Marketing for Dummies.

Separate afternoon sessions on Export Basics, International Sales Opportunities, Packing and Invoicing, and Booth Design. 

The Training Workshops also are open to the media through prior arrangement.

“The W. K. Kellogg program is a particularly important part of what we do,” says Charlene Cerny, Executive Director of the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market. “It helps us fulfill the mission of the Santa Fe International Folk Art to foster economic and cultural sustainability for folk artists and folk art worldwide and to create intercultural exchange opportunities uniting peoples of the world.”

For more information, please visit www.folkartmarket.org. To arrange media visits to any of the sessions, contact Clare Hertel at 505-670-3090.