It is a special pleasure to welcome you to the 2021 International Folk Art Market after what has been a challenging year for people everywhere — and especially for our beloved artists from around the world.

The artists were particularly hard hit as tourism was halted, markets were closed and people were quarantined.

The 2021 International Folk Art Market will provide renewed sales opportunities for the artists, which will allow them to continue preserving and innovating within their cultural traditions, while at the same time, providing them with the needed funds to support their families and their communities.

The staff, board of directors and market working group have been planning a way to hold the 2021 market since we decided to cancel the market last year. The work we did as a group gave us renewed hope and showed us that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Although the market will be modified this year through our timed-entry tickets and smaller crowds, we are certain that the intimacy of the event and the visitors' ability to spend quality time with the artists will provide an enhanced experience for all.

The upcoming weekends are the reward for our community, the general public and the artists who are participating. We are welcoming over 120 artists from 50 countries, including several U.S.-born artists selected by our partner museums and institutions.

Among the many changes catalyzed by the global health crisis is our newly instituted online Mentor to Market Artist Education Program. This initiative will enable artists globally to access the program year-round, and includes such topics as marketing, photography, pricing and sales presentations — in short, all the components needed to create a successful enterprise from your handmade works of art.

In the near future, we plan to expand our programming to include artist-in-residence programs, workshops at local schools, public presentations and exhibitions in national galleries — all in the service of our mission to support the work of artists who celebrate their cultures through multiple craft traditions.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the supporters who have stuck with us in these challenging times, and give special acknowledgment to our business partners, the Santa Fe New Mexican, our community members and our dedicated board of directors and staff.

¡Mil gracias! Enjoy the magic of the International Folk Art Market!