The president of the Cabildo, Antonio Morales, opens the event by reiterating Fedac's support for a sector that needs it “now more than ever”
The 1st Autumn Crafts Fair organized by the Foundation for Ethnography and the Development of Canarian Crafts (Fedac) has opened its doors today to all citizens of Gran Canaria and especially to tourists who are already strolling through Meloneras, specifically in the Mar Mediterráneo street, next to the Varadero Shopping Center, with the participation of 60 artisans from all over the Island who until November 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m., exhibit and sell their craft creations such as ceramics, jewelry, wood, metal, leather, textiles, or glass. In total, 25 of the 87 trades that make up the repertoire approved by the autonomous community are represented, combining tradition and design.
And the fair, which had to be postponed in spring due to the pandemic, was moved to this time at the request of the artisans since it coincides precisely with the high tourism season, as explained by the president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales. , who stressed that the objective is none other than "to support the artisan sector in these difficult times for the economy of the workshops" which is why the idea is for it to now become a recurring event, for the years in which Gran Canaria does not celebrate the Regional Fair. “It is a way to make it easier for artisans to market their products, because although the Institution has created two lines of direct aid at this time to alleviate the damage of the health crisis, opening this event, in which Fedac has invested 100.000 euros, facilitates that commercialization.”
In this sense, the Minister of Industry, Crafts and Commerce, Minerva Alonso, explained for her part that, “the FEDAC is committed to continuing to visualize and promote the commercialization of artisan products, which now more than ever need the collaboration of the entire population. local and foreign to be able to remain active and maintain the survival of the artisan trades, which are ultimately the cultural heritage of all Canary Islands," he stated.
And the Fairs are small spaces of time that allow the artisan to abandon his workshop and other obligations and dedicate himself to direct sales, and that also promote direct producer-buyer contact, facilitating orders and the presentation of new products. In addition to the Fairs, the sector has FEDAC craft stores, located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and in the Faro Ethnographic Center of Maspalomas, which allow it to have a point of sale throughout the year.
For the survival of the trades, Fedac also proposes, as Alonso explained, a new training approach for craft activities based on new technologies and the integration of new production materials, entrepreneurship, design and innovation and marketing. .
Exhibition dedicated to plant fibers and musical performances
In addition to the participation of the 60 artisans, the FEDAC will be present with the information stand where a temporary exhibition dedicated to the plant fibers that grow in the area of the Maspalomas Charca, reed, palm tree and the artisan crafts that are made with these matters.
And among the revitalization actions, different musical performances will take place throughout the days, including the Papagüevos-Tildé parade, the group Choirs and Dance, Vitamina Brand, Agrupación Folklorica, Batucada Makana, Comparsa Aragüimé or Batucada San Borondón, all among the 17:00 p.m. and 18:30 p.m.