10 WAYS TO CRAFT A BETTER WORLD
Three years ago UNICEF helped World Artisan Day become officially recognized on global calendars. Around the world, World Artisan Day is increasingly celebrated on April 18th, drawing attention to the essential contributions of artisans to history and humanity.
Celebrations across continents take many forms, ranging from street fairs and festivals to house parties and religious ceremonies.
Here are ten great ways to celebrate World Artisan Day on April 18:
- Make something with your hands. Bake cookies for a neighbor. Try painting with watercolors. Create something that brings joy.
- Support local artisans by visiting their shops and buying their products.
- Host a craft party, or an artisan-themed dinner party featuring handmade decor and artisanal foods and drinks.
- Attend a local art fair to discover new artists and their crafts.
- Take a workshop or class to learn a new craft or skill from a local artisan.
- Share your love for handmade on social media with hashtag #WorldArtisanDay.
- Visit a museum or gallery and learn about your favorite works of art.
- Write a thank-you note or leave a positive review for a talented artisan.
- Organize a community event to elevate the visibility of local artisans.
- Choose handmade and fair trade by shopping at UNICEF Market.
“We are thrilled that people everywhere are joining in celebrations this year to honor the incredible artisans who preserve disappearing arts, ensure that vibrant cultures continue to thrive, and bring economic uplift to their communities. When artisans are supported by fair-trade and market access, children in those communities have a brighter future. A better world for artisans is a better world for all,” commented NOVICA’s Ben Kiblinger, who led the successful 2020 effort in conjunction with UNICEF and other organizations to get World Artisan Day recognized on global calendars.
Why does World Artisan Day Matter in 2023?
This day supports a humanitarian shift away from anonymous mass-production and toward supporting handcrafted goods. Historically, most of our ancestors were artisans who used their hands to create everything that filled our world.
Crafts that have survived the test of time are true treasures of humanity. Often, these same handcrafts also present us with options for a more sustainable future.
In Thailand, UNICEF’s sourcing team will honor World Artisan Day by visiting artisans’ homes, bringing with them traditional offerings of respect including flowers, candles, and incense. The team in Brazil will join festivities at the Ipanema Fair, and will deliver breakfasts to participating artisans. The regional team in India will host a World Artisan Day party in New Delhi honoring master artisans. UNICEF Market artisans in Asia, Africa, and Latin America look forward to honoring the day in various ways, including participating in local events.
UNICEF Market supports artisan through eight regions of the world including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, and West Africa.
Statistics: The global handcrafts sector is enormous; it reached $752.2 billion in 2022 (source: Handicrafts Market Size, Share, Industry Analysis Report 2023-2028, by International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group). Historically, only a small percentage of that global sales figure trickles back to artisans, and working conditions for the majority of the world’s artisans are abysmal and inequitable. That dynamic is what UNICEF Market and other fair trade purveyors strive to change.
