It might not be as famous as the major international soccer tournament capturing the world’s attention right now, but it’s a big deal in the New Mexico art world.
SANTA FE, N.M. – It might not be as famous as the major international soccer tournament capturing the world’s attention right now, but it’s a big deal in the New Mexico art world.
“I know everybody’s got World Cup fever, but we are the World Cup of folk art,” said International Folk Art Market CEO Stacey Edgar.
The yearly event in Santa Fe officially kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday.
But Wednesday evening saw its fair share of festivities as vendors from 53 countries took a ceremonial train to Santa Fe Railyard while hundreds of people cheered them on.
“Well, I think last year was excellent, so I really hope that this year we’ll also get a very good crowd. And I’m quite positive that they will come in because it’s really a beautiful showcase,” said clothing vendor Hemangini Rathore from India.
While the annual event has its fair share of returning vendors like Rathore, who says she has been here at least six times, there are also some who weren’t able to make it due to difficulties being allowed into the country in the first place.
Edgar said that some vendors hoping to come to New Mexico won’t be in attendance this year thanks in part to issues getting visas approved in time.
“You know, I think what it mostly did is have our staff scrambling and had our artists a little bit nervous. We take all the right precautions the learn all the new executive orders, all the new regulations that come into play,” she told KOB 4.
Additionally, the last couple years have brought the additional challenge of trying to navigate tariffs and avoid passing on too much of the cost to patrons.
“Tariffs have been challenging for the past two years, but luckily, we’re in a spot right now where some of those really high reciprocal tariffs were brought down to only about ten-percent,” said Edgar.
The event features paintings, jewelry, clothing, rugs, and much, much more from virtually every corner of the globe.
One donor and supporter, Tom Frost, told KOB 4 that the most challenging part of the yearly festival is trying not to leave with too many items.
“Surprised and amazed,” he said, describing his thoughts each year he comes back. “Hopefully we can find places for these things.”
While some vendors are crowd favorites and return each year, it isn’t necessarily easy to secure a spot in Santa Fe for the summertime fan favorite event with less than a quarter of hopefuls gaining entry.
“In fact, we get over 700 applicants annually for those 140-150 spots,” said Edgar.
