Artists displaying wares in the International Folk Art Market come from faraway lands such as Uzbekistan, Mali, and Bhutan. When they land at Albuquerque International Sunport, they might well be both exhausted and wary of the 60-mile journey to Santa Fe that remains. To mitigate that discomfort, IFAM sends volunteers to the airport, regardless of the artists’ arrival time, says Executive Director Stacey Edgar.
Other volunteers serve as translators, booth assistants, or cashiers. IFAM has about 1,500 volunteers and is always looking for more, even in the days leading up to the festivities (visit folkartmarket .org/volunteer for information).
This year, 166 artists representing 51 countries are set to converge on Santa Fe, and the market is marking 20 years of showcasing globe- spanning works with some fresh offerings. Two notable changes: The market will close with what’s billed as Community Day, a free day including programming for children, as well as demonstrations and performances. Also, visiting artists will receive headsets that allow them to hear presentations in real time in their native languages, Edgar says.
By the time Santa Fe’s visitors participate in the Community Celebration and Artist Procession on IFAM’s opening day, they’ll have had plenty of time to get acclimated, Edgar says. IFAM holds events both before and after the market to help the artists get to know the city, as well as one another. “It’s not open to the public, but I do love the publ.
