Smithsonian Folklife Festival Marketplace Features Food, Craft and Pop-up Experiences

The 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates cultural heritage enterprise and features programming and products from Armenia and Catalonia. The Marketplace is where artist and artisan meet to share their masterful skills and rich stories with visitors who may purchase some of the items. It is open from 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m. every day of the festival June 27–July 1 and July 4–8 and each purchase supports the artists at work, as well as the sustainability of traditional craft-making worldwide. This once-a-year unique shopping experience is enhanced by special events such as demonstrations, hands-on family activities, food tastings and specialty pop-ups.

“When the Folklife Festival turned 50 last year, we took time to think deeply about what was next,” said Marketplace coordinator Jacqueline Pangelinan. “Transforming our Marketplace from a gift shop to an artisan market better serves our mission to expand understanding and champion cultural vitality. I am thrilled for visitors to engage directly with talented craftspeople visiting from over 15 countries—and get a closer look into the handmade experience through craft demos, tastings and conversations.”

All of the festival’s work is guided by Fair Trade principles. This year, women’s-craft artisan groups Goris Women’s Resource Center, the Berd Women’s Resource Center (both from Armenia), Global Goods Partners and Global Girlfriend and Beadworks (Kenya) are represented, whose proceeds directly benefit women. In addition, this year’s Marketplace celebrates its continuing partnership with the International Folk Art Market, which works to create economic opportunities for and with artists worldwide who celebrate and preserve folk art traditions.

“International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe is proud to partner with Smithsonian Folklife Festival, bringing 18 master folk artists from around the world to participate in the wonderful exposition of living cultural heritage produced by one of the world’s great cultural institutions,” said Jeff Snell, CEO of the International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe. “The artists are very excited and so is the entire IFAM team. And for those festival attendees, it will be an added treat for an already fantastic experience.”

Visit the festival calendar for a full schedule of programming. The Festival strives to maintain an accessible and inclusive environment for visitors of all abilities. Information about Accessibility Services may be found at festival.si.edu/accessibility.

About the Festival

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, inaugurated in 1967, honors contemporary living cultural traditions and celebrates those who practice and sustain them. Produced annually by the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in partnership with the National Park Service, the Festival has featured participants from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. For more information on the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, visit https://folklife.si.edu/ and follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About the International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe

The International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe, now in its 15th year, is the largest and most celebrated folk art festival in the world. Since 2004, the Market has hosted close to 1,000 artists from 98 countries. Most importantly, the International Folk Art Market Santa Fe is a celebration of living folk art traditions that create viable economic opportunities for and with folk artists worldwide, most of whom contribute to the well-being of entire communities. Join us! Purchase remarkable handmade art from around the world, enjoy international food and music, artist demonstrations, be transformed and more. Tickets are limited and are on sale now. For more information, visit www.folkartmarket.org.

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SI-371A-2018