Alliance for Artisan Enterprise Competition

Written by Mary Anne Wise

In September 2015 finalists in a global competition sponsored by the Aspen Institute's Alliance for Artisan Enterprise were announced. The Guatemalan rug hooking artisans, a project initiated by Cultural Cloth founders Jody Slocum and Mary Anne Wise, were among the 15 finalists.  Today the project is supported by Multicolores, a Guatemalan artisan based nonprofit Slocum & Wise co-founded. Multicolores president, Reyna Pretzantzin and Development Director Cheryl Conway flew to Washington, DC to participate in the 2 day-long conference.

The competition's goal was to create awareness and seek ways to support the global craft economy, a world-wide economy second only to the global agricultural economy. It is estimated that 65% of the global craft economy is earned by women. 

150 artisans from 42 countries competed; 15 finalists were flown to Washington, DC courtesy of the US State Department.  They met to lay a networking foundation, meet and learn from one another, participate in workshops, meet think tank representatives and government officials, including John Kerry, who presented a keynote address.

Reyna Pretzantzin reported: "Although we did not win the competition, we felt honored to be selected amidst such a rich field of talent. We are very happy to represent the Maya women artisans here in DC!". Cheryl Conway added, "being a part of this project from such an early phase and to now see the world-wide recognition the rug hookers have earned was very rewarding and emotional."

Learn more about the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise finalists: http://www.allianceforartisanenterprise.org/finalists/.

To learn more about the talented rug hookers of Multicolores, including how to make a donation:  http://www.multicolores.org/.