IFAM Celebrates Two Decades of Global Folk Art
Nanasei Agyemang of Bolga Woven | Ghana and IFAM and Advisory Board Member, JoAnn Balzer.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The International Folk Art Market is pleased to announce its 20th Anniversary Market, held this year at the Railyard Park on July 11- July 14, 2024. Festivities commence with the free Community Celebration and Artist Procession on Wednesday, July 10, at the Railyard Water Tower. Thursday, July 11, through Sunday, July 14, the 20th Annual International Folk Art Market opens to the public; tickets are on sale at folkartmarket.org/tickets.
Since the market’s inception in 2004, IFAM has hosted over 1,600 master folk artists from 103 countries—empowering artists and communities while serving as a catalyst to strengthen communities and promote traditional art forms. Out of this year’s 571 artist applications, the market has selected 167 artists from 51 countries. IFAM is welcoming a new country to the market this year, including Papua New Guinea, represented by the non-profit textile collective, Among Equals.
“We are thrilled to highlight artists who have been with us since the beginning in our Legacy Tent, as well as showcase the way artists are creatively evolving folk art in our Innovation Tent. The market will include a dynamic roster of global artisans that deliver on our mission to honor the handmade and support the work of artisans serving as entrepreneurs and catalysts for positive social change,” said IFAM’s Executive Director, Stacey Edgar.
In 2023, the International Folk Art Market relocated from its longtime home on Museum Hill to the center of Santa Fe’s thriving arts district at Railyard Park. At this year’s market, attendees will experience the world’s best folk artists; enjoy global music including Grupo TradiSon, from La Habana, Cuba; and additional performances on the AMP stage, sponsored by Nusenda Credit Union; sample unique culinary experiences from international food vendors; and learn about issues affecting global artisans at the IFAM speaker series titled The Eternal Present. In celebration of the twentieth edition of the International Folk Art Market, the annual speakers series takes its cue from the broad Indigenous worldview that time is cyclical and circular. The series will be held at SITE Santa Fe and the program is curated and moderated by Philip Fimmano. Community Day, sponsored by New Mexico True, will be held on Sunday, July 14. Through the generous sponsorship of the State, IFAM will offer free admission for all timed entry tickets throughout the day.
“We’re making it easier for all New Mexico residents and beyond to join us at the market. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Rail Runner Express again this year. Marketgoers can ride the train operated by Rio Metro Transit by simply adding a round-trip seat from their nearest train stop directly on the IFAM ticket site. From Los Lunas to Bernalillo, you’ll arrive just steps away from the iconic market entrance at the beautiful Santa Fe Depot. Join us for a unique global experience like you’ve never seen before,” said Chairman of the IFAM Board, Hank Coleman.
In 2024, IFAM was voted #6 on USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Award, Top 10 Art Markets in the United States. In just twenty years Santa Fe’s International Folk Art Market has developed into the largest juried folk-art market of its kind in the world.
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About IFAM:
Created in 2004 by Judith Espinar, Thomas Aageson, Charlene Cernyand and Charmay Allred, the mission of the International Folk Art Market is to create economic opportunities for and with folk artists worldwide who celebrate and preserve folk art traditions. 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 artisans serving as entrepreneurs and catalysts for positive social change.
Media Contact:
Audrey Rubinstein, audrey@themettaagency.com, 505-490-5029
