Around the world, artisans and art lovers celebrated World Artisan Day on April 18 at art fairs, festivals, and at unique smaller events. The annual holiday recognizes artisans for their essential contributions to history and humanity. NOVICA’s regional Artisan Empowerment Hub teams joined the global festivities.
“We are thrilled that people everywhere are joining in celebrations this year to honor the incredible craftspeople who tether us to our rich, creative past and future,” commented NOVICA’s Ben Kiblinger, in Hawaii, who spearheaded the successful effort to establish World Artisan Day on global calendars back in 2021.
Master artisans in Bali, along with their friends, family, and NOVICA’s local staff, decided to honor World Artisan Day by joining forces to clean a favorite beach.
“There’s a saying in Balinese, ‘Segara kerthi, campuhan urip sarwa prani,’ explained Fajar Dewi, NOVICA senior administrator in Bali, “It means: ‘The sea is the beginning and the end of the life of all creatures.’ That’s why the beach cleaning event was a very important and meaningful part of this celebration, for all of us in Bali.”
In India, on World Artisan Day renowned painter Dr. Sneh Gangal, recipient of the prestigious National Award for Traditional Art, helped commemorate the day with an educational workshop for NOVICA’s regional staff in New Delhi.
Gangal taught participants about the process of extracting colors from stones, vegetation, and certain insects.
“She left us mesmerized. Her vivid narration sprinkled with personal experiences and anecdotes made it a very lively and fun day for everyone,” commented Anvita Malhotra, NOVICA’s national representative in India, adding, “Dr. Gangal also taught us some basic skills of her traditional painting style, which included the correct handling of colors and brushes. She explained different ways of creating shades and dimensions. We did not want this workshop to end!”
In Lima, Peru, celebrants gathered at NOVICA’s Artisan Empowerment Hub for a party honoring artisans. Peruvian master jeweler Eda Arroyo entertained the revelers with a traditional Marinera Norteña dance demonstration.
In Guatemala, NOVICA’s local staff visited artisans, personally delivering celebratory cake and balloons to their studios. The artisans were delightfully surprised and honored by the cheer-filled visits.
In Thailand, NOVICA’s local team visited artisans as well.
“During our visit to Pang and Ni’s shop, we shared our well wishes for World Artisan Day, and they expressed their gratitude as well,” explains Duangreuthai Tongpetch, NOVICA’s national representative in Thailand, adding, “Our visit to Wilai was also inspiring. She is a dedicated artisan who has made it her mission to keep handmade crafts alive, and to help people in her community earn a living without having to leave home. It was a memorable day visiting these and other artisans – a day filled with appreciation and celebration for the work of artisans around the world.”
NOVICA’s regional staff in Brazil, joined by NOVICA President and Cofounder Armenia Nercessian, celebrated with artisans at a neighborhood art festival, delivering breakfasts and reminiscing with NOVICA Brazil’s first participating artist, Luiz Antonio Lopez, who began selling his paintings on NOVICA in 2000.
“At the festival, we were able to reach out to some of the artists and artisans we haven’t seen in person in a long time, showing them how important they all are to us personally, and to NOVICA,” said Mariana Costa, NOVICA’s logistics and administration manager in Brazil.
NOVICA’s West Africa hub launched a poster and social media blitz on World Artisan Day, commemorating many of the region’s artisans individually, on an extensive series of World Artisan Day posters.
Artisans throughout Mexico also celebrated World Artisan Day on April 18. Many artisans posted related photos on social media and participated in local celebrations.