Artisans from Progressing in Handcrafts Program Prepare for the Design Caribbean Fair

Artisans from Progressing in Handcrafts Program Prepare for the Design Caribbean Fair
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 05/28/2011

A group of artisans from the Progressing in Handcrafts Program, developed by the Office of the First Lady in El Cedro de Miches, participated in a workshop to hone their technical and creative design skills. The workshop was given by Guilio Vinaccia, World Tourism Organization (WTO) advisor and Ferrari designer.

The objective of this activity was to prepare Dominican artisans to present their products in the competitive Design Caribbean Fair to be held in Santo Domingo from September 1-4.

The objective of this activity was to prepare Dominican artisans to present their products in the competitive Design Caribbean Fair to be held in Santo Domingo from September 1-4. Craftspeople from such countries as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados will also be participating.

Twenty-one Dominican artisans took part in the workshop that was given at the National Center for Handcrafts (CENADARTE). The participants were chosen after a wide-reaching national selection process. The artisans chosen work in a variety of areas including ceramics, paper Mache, coconut shell, jewelry and woodcarving.

In the case of the coconut shell, the candidates participating are Benita Pache and Petronila Sánchez from the Progressing in Handcrafts program developed by the Office of the First Lady in the community of El Cedro de Miches.

According to José de Ferrari, program advisor who oversaw the selection progress, decided on the community of El Cedro because of the coconut shell work done there and for “its production capacity, good organization and because they were immediately interested in participating.” 

For four days, Dominican craftspeople made lamps, tables, sculptures and jewelry, among other products while following the observations and suggestions of the well-known Italian designer who also gave workshops in the other countries participating in Design Caribbean.

“The potential we have is incredible. What we would like to see is for artisans not to have to depend only on the tourism market for sales but to be able to branch out. That’s why this fair and workshop are important,” said Ferrari. 

When Vinaccia returns to the Dominican Republic in July, he will evaluate the advances made by the workshop participants and see their finished products. “I give a little of my ideas and I want to see yours,” he said during the handing out of the certificates.