Join the World’s Finest Folk Artists

IFAM Artist Application Information

Thank you for your interest in applying to become an IFAM artist.

The 2026 IFAM artists have been announced! The application for 2027 is now open.

The application process is rigorous and designed to provide our Selection and Placement Committees with an accurate and thorough review of your work. This process helps us make thoughtful and informed decisions about your potential participation in the market. Our team is ready to assist you with any questions throughout this process.

Application submissions open from March 23 through September 11, 2026.

Apply Today!
Two people in traditional clothing, standing side by side, smiling, at a cultural event, with a

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

  • IFAM welcomes applications from traditional folk artists whose work reflects time-honored community-based traditions, and artists who are inspired by these cultural traditions but who may also innovate upon them. Contemporary items that do not demonstrate an innovation of a tradition may not be accepted.

  • Individual artists, cooperatives, non-profit organizations, businesses or individual sponsors are eligible to apply.

  • The work you submit must have been made within the past five years.

  • Since there are many venues open to American folk artists to show and sell their work, participation in the International Folk Art Market is limited to artists who reside outside the United States or who have legally immigrated to the United States and actively create folk art that is consistent with the traditions of their native country.

  • There is no fee to apply

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you already have an account with award force from a previous event, you can login using your existing account information

Ready to become an IFAM Artist?

The Artist Selection Committee meets in the Fall of each year to evaluate International Folk Art Market applications for the following year’s International Folk Art Market | Santa Fe (IFAM | Santa Fe). Based on their evaluations, applicants are recommended to be considered for participation in the International Folk Art Market. All applicants are notified by December 31, by email, whether or not they are invited to participate in the International Folk Art Market in July.

The Artist Selection Committee is guided by the following criteria when they evaluate IFAM | Santa Fe applications: artistic quality; traditionalism of the art form/art work as well as of the design and the production process; acquisition of artistic knowledge (how the artist has acquired their artistic knowledge and skills); and role or use of the art form/art work in the artist’s community. Please also visit Our Mission page to better understand how the Artist Selection Committee evaluates applications. Independent folk artists, folk artists who are members of cooperatives, and businesses and nonprofits working with folk artists are encouraged to apply. All participants of past International Folk Art Markets are welcome to apply. However, to encourage the participation of new artists we give special attention to applications from new artists and applications from cooperatives, non-profit organizations and businesses that sponsor new artists.

IFAM Artist Selection Process

Diagram showing criteria for artist selection and placement committees, including artistic quality, traditionality of process and materials, traditionality of form and motif, cultural relevance, community relevance, and market-specific considerations.

Since there are many venues open to American folk artists to show and sell their work, participation in the International Folk Art Market | Santa Fe is limited to artists who reside outside the United States or have legally immigrated to the United States and who actively create folk art that is consistent with the traditions of their native country. Businesses and nonprofit organizations based in the United States or abroad that represent the work of such artists are also eligible to apply. The folk art sold in the International Folk Art Market | Santa Fe is traditional folk art. Modern fashions, designer goods, and tourist items will not be accepted. 

Man sculpting clay figure wearing traditional clothing, with another person in the background.
Man smiling and holding a woven basket with black stripes
Clay sculpture of two human figures with birds on their heads, featuring decorative patterns in the background.
Man with a beard and blue hat engraving a floral design onto a black bowl, surrounded by decorated pottery on a table.
Colorful patterned boots with intricate designs displayed in a row.
Decorative ceramic bust of a woman with braided hair and intricate patterns on her attire.
Two people displaying a colorful, patterned textile at a market stall with other textiles and bags in the background.
A person holding a colorful woven textile featuring flowers, birds, and butterflies. The background displays more woven textiles with various patterns, indicating a craft booth setting.
Smiling man and woman in traditional attire, man wearing a woven hat, outdoors.
“I’m so honored to be part of the 20th IFAM anniversary. Such a great privilege. So excited and looking forward to the market.”
— Kuzai Benson from Namibia 🇳🇦

  • Since 2004, the International Folk Art Market has hosted more than 1000 master folk artists from 100 countries in the world’s largest exhibition and sale of works by master folk artists. Artist earnings have exceeded $34 million and impacted more than one million lives in the communities they represent. The Market offers folk artists a respected place in the global marketplace to gather together and share their handmade traditions and to create economic, social, and individual empowerment.

  • IFAM Santa Fe is scheduled on the second full weekend in July and takes place under a tented outside venue at the Railyard Park in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The 2026 Market will take place on July 9-12th, 2026. The 2027 Market will take place on July 8-11, 2027.

  • Each year IFAM Santa Fe attracts over 16,000 visitors and folk art enthusiasts over a period of four and one-half days. More than 150 folk artists from over 50 countries participate each year. The International Folk Art Market is responsible for the exhibition and sale of all artwork available at the annual International Folk Art Market. Over 1,600 individuals volunteer their time to make every part of the event successful.

  • The International Folk Art Alliance doing business as the International Folk Art Market (IFAM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of IFAM is to celebrate and preserve living folk art traditions and create economic opportunities for and with folk artists worldwide. The International Folk Art Market envisions a world that values the dignity and humanity of the handmade, honors timeless cultural traditions, and supports the work of folk artists serving as entrepreneurs and catalysts for positive social change.

  • The deadline for 2027 application will be September 11!

  • The application is available for online starting March 23, 2026.

  • IFAM welcomes applications from traditional folk artists whose work reflects longstanding community-based traditions, and artists who are inspired by these cultural traditions but who also may innovate upon them. Individual artists, cooperatives, non-profit organizations, businesses or individual sponsors are eligible to apply.

  • Since there are many venues open to American folk artists to show and sell their work, participation in this juried selection process is limited to artists who reside outside the United States, or have legally immigrated to the United States and who actively create folk art that is consistent with the traditions of their native country. Additionally, we accept applications from folk artists living in U.S. Territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean who produce folk art that is indigenous to those territories.

  • A limited number of financial assistance packages are available for first-time participants. The financial assistance form is included in the online application. Returning participants, representatives of major businesses or organizations are not eligible to receive financial assistance. Notifications of financial assistance are sent via email.

    The packages are awarded to support an artist’s:

    International round trip airfare

    US domestic travel

    Local airport shuttle transportation (Albuquerque/Santa Fe)

    Educational programs

    Hotel in Santa Fe during the Market (Hotel designated by IFAM)

    On occasion, the financial assistance package can extend to cover the costs for a qualified interpreter upon discretion by IFAM. This is determined case by case, and if IFAM is unable to provide a language interpreter.

    If an applicant does not receive financial assistance for themselves, or proposed interpreter, they are expected to manage their expenses to attend.

    Artists who receive financial assistance must still cover costs such as: passport and visa fees, shipping and custom fees, transportation within their own country and booth fee. Financial assistance is for one person, and can be applied to the primary artist or an individual accompanying the artist.

  • The folk art sold at the International Folk Art Market Santa Fe should have a foundation of traditional folk art. Contemporary items that do not demonstrate an innovation of a tradition may not be accepted. Tourist trinkets or souvenirs made in mass quantity will not accepted.

  • IFAM includes artists who demonstrate excellence in innovations within their folk art traditions. Traditions may evolve over time in materials, method, design and/or products used. Collaboration between artists working in different traditions will also be considered.

  • The first juried process is the Selection Committee. Your application is judged on a scoring matrix including artistic quality, tradition of form and final product, tradition of design and materials, tradition of production process, acquisition of artistic knowledge, community involvement, and personal and community innovation. Your story and your photos are given high consideration during this process, and are of major importance. The photos you send are the only way our two juries can see the detail and quality of your work. To learn more about how to submit and upload a great photo, please see:

    The second juried process is the Placement Committee. The Selection Committee submits approximately 300 recommended artists to the Placement Committee. The committee reviews the aesthetic appeal and variety, quality of the workmanship including the finishing details, the marketability of the pieces to the IFAM customer, and the relationship of price to quality in each category. Also, the Placement Committee considers geographic diversity, diversity of artistic medium, and newness and freshness to the Market.

  • The Selection and Placement review process of your application occurs from September through November. You will be notified by December 2025 by email.

  • Submit the best photographs of your work. Follow the detailed instructions in the application.

    The work must have been made within the past five years.

    In the Artist’s Story section, it is important to explain how you learned your art form and what it means to you and your community

  • If you need a passport to travel, make sure you have a valid passport which does not expire less than six months after your date of arrival. If you need a visa for travel and entry into the United States, please contact your local U.S. consulate or embassy as soon as possible to make an appointment. IFAM will provide document to support your visa application.

  • The amount of product an artist(s) brings is determined by the artist or cooperative. IFAM suggests that the artist or cooperative considers the cost of shipping any unsold work after the Market back to their home country, for which the artist or cooperative is responsible for any associated costs.

  • Take into consideration the cost of your materials, labor, shipping/customs costs, currency conversion, import and export costs, and any other expenses you may incur while traveling to IFAM Santa Fe because you will not be allowed to change your retail price if you have been selected.

    For more information on shipping to the United States and USA customs rules, please refer to the Shipping Handbook for Artists here.

  • Participants are required to pay for the following expenses:

    Production costs of folk art

    Passport and visa fees

    Transportation: airfare, shuttle, other

    Booth fee (see IFAM Fees)

    Lodging (approximately 7 nights)

    Shipping and Customs/Duty fees

    Hand-carry additional luggage

    Miscellaneous

  • The booth fee for artists present at the Market is $700 USD.

    *First-time participants, are participants 1) who have never attended the Folk Art Market | Santa Fe, 2) whose immediate or extended family members have never attended the Market, and 3) whose organization or business has never attended the Market.

    IFAM retains a fee of 10% from first-time participants* and 20% from returning participants to help pay for Market expenses. In the event that sales are lower than $10,000, IFAM will retain only 10% of sales. IFAM also retains a 2% fee on all credit card charges.

    Artists who apply for and receive financial assistance packages are still responsible for costs that include: passport and visa fees, shipping of your artwork, customs clearance, and the $700 booth fee.

  • The International Folk Art Market Santa Fe has a juried selection process. There is no fee to apply. Individuals who have been accepted to IFAM Santa Fe previously or who have participated in previous years are not guaranteed to be selected in subsequent years. Returning applicants must submit a new application for consideration each year.

    If you have questions about the application process, please contact the organizers by email: nadia@folkartmarket.org, or call +1 505 992 7609

Artist Application FAQs