Master craftsmen are very important to Colombia and that is why we are making great efforts to promote their creations and show them to the world.

Colombia has thousands of master artisans who, in addition to transmitting the country’s cultural heritage through their creations, produce products that are used for the economic development of their communities. With its artisanal activity, it generates income and job positions. More than a million people in Colombia benefit from working in this economic sector. Crafts play a key socio-cultural and economic role for society.

The UNESCO definition for handicrafts is:

“Artisan products are those produced by artisans, either entirely by hand, or with the help of hand tools or even mechanical means, provided that the direct manual contribution of the artisan remains the most important component of the finished product. They are produced without limitation in terms of quantity and using raw materials from sustainable resources. The special nature of artisan products is based on their distinctive characteristics, which can be utilitarian, aesthetic, artistic, creative, culturally related, decorative, functional, traditional, symbolic, and religiously and socially significant.”

The products created by the master craftsmen in Colombia are ambassadors in themselves, ambassadors of how wonderful this country is, not only in cultural tradition but also in the quality of the people.

The master craftsmen have transmitted ancestral knowledge, from generation to generation, on topics such as the handling of raw materials, production techniques and adaptation, responding to what the communities are needing.

Today the master craftsmen are taking a step further, not only adapting their products to the needs of the community but also to the design trends seen in the market. Crafts are modifying their forms according to their new users and adapting to new trends.

Designers have knowledge of trends and market demand, achieving a key job between these two actors can enhance the socio-economic results that artisan products bring to the country.

This is why we advocate showing the importance of master craftsmen and their work for the development of the country, and we work to connect them with designers motivated to use ancestral techniques in their artisan design collections.

SOURCES:

www.unesco.org

www.directorioconectarte.com/blog/importancia-de-los-artesanos-para-colombia/