Global Crafts Marketing Platforms and Assistance Programs in 2019

Marketing resources for handmade crafts shared on this site has come from experiences with U.S. and Canada audiences. I am often asked about global markets like what kind of markets and assistance programs are available to artisans and makers in countries outside North America. Below is my list of resources that may be helpful to you in your search.

http://www.ifacca.org/  : The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) is the global network of arts councils and ministries of culture, with member institutions in over 70 countries. Our vision is a world in which arts and culture thrive and are recognised by governments and peoples for their contribution to society. Our purpose is to support members to succeed and be a global voice advocating for arts and culture.

http://www.aidtoartisans.org : ATA is dedicated to providing immediate income to local artisans based on their present skills. With craft as the second largest source of income behind agriculture for marginalized groups in developing countries, the new, expanded ATA will continue to build successful craft enterprises and transmit business skills adaptable to the ever-changing requirements of the modern marketplace.

https://www.novica.com/ : A global marketplace for arts and crafts. Associated with National Geographic.

https://www.globalmarketplace.com/ : Our mission is to help low income Craft Producers in Developing Nations market their crafts in the United States. We fulfill this mission now by purchasing these crafts directly from the people who make them – the Producers – and retailing them to you in our Amazon and Ebay listings at https://www.ebay.com/usr/globalmarketplace

https://www.globalcrafts.org/ : Global Crafts wholesales over 2000 products from 20 countries in the developing world to over 1000 stores in the USA. Every product is handmade, unique and high quality, enabling retail store owners to stand out from the crowd.

https://en.unesco.org/ifpc/content/apply-for-support : UNESCO International Fund for the Promotion of Culture. The International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (IFPC) was established in order to give greater prominence to culture in the development of individuals and societies and of strengthening international cultural cooperation, as well as to provide assistance for artistic creation and cultural activities. The Fund will provide financial support on the basis of a call for proposals opening once a year. Priority is given to young artists/creators (18-30 years old) and to projects benefiting youth.

http://www.princeclausfund.org : Ticket Fund by Prince Claus Fund: The Prince Claus Fund’s Ticket Fund supports the cross-cultural exchange of artists and cultural practitioners by covering travel costs, in particular for artists and cultural practitioners living in Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, non-EU Balkans and non-EU Eastern Europe who wish to travel within these areas. Priority is given to individuals up to 35 years old and/or within the first 10 years of their career.

http://ffaiarts.net/ : The Foundation for Arts Initiatives is a private foundation, independent of any governments, agencies, NGOs, or their related agendas, which supports contemporary visual arts and culture. It provides support to new and alternative forms of institutions for operations, projects and research, and makes grants to individuals for research and travel. Individuals may submit an inquiry for a Fund for Arts Research grant of $7,500 for research and travel. You can apply at any time, but grant review can take up to 6 months.

http://www.fundacionbotin.org/art-and-culture-area/training.html : The Visual Arts Scholarships of the Botín Foundation provides financial aid for training, research or personal projects around artistic creation, which conclude with the organisation of the Itineraries Exhibition and the publication of a catalogue. The scholarships are available to people of any nationality although candidates must be between 23 and 40 years old except for research scholarships.

http://culture360.asef.org/asef-news/mobility : International Cultural Mobility Funding Guide: In the guide for funding opportunities “Open to any nationality” for the Asia-Europe Foundation, you can find regular international mobility funding opportunities. Residency related funding is indicated, and the last chapter of this guide includes a list of fully or mostly funded residencies worldwide.

http://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/faq : The Awesome Foundation is a global community advancing the interest of awesome in the universe, $1000 at a time. Unusual, crazy projects can be submitted at any time. The micro-grants, $1000 or the local equivalent, are given on a no-strings-attached basis to people and groups working on awesome projects.

https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ : We create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships.

https://globein.com/ : We empower remarkable artisans in remote areas with the tools to build sustainable businesses. Providing connection and guidance, we help our partners feel stronger, more confident and in control of their lives through the expansion of their craft. As servant leaders, we improve the lives of our artisans so they can take great care of themselves, their families and their communities.

http://www.etsy.com : Global marketplace for handmade arts, crafts and supplies.

https://www.amazon.com/Handmade :  Global marketplace for handmade arts, crafts.

https://shopsoko.com/ : Ethical fashion, aligning handmade talent from emerging markets with the international fashion consumer. They work with artisan entrepreneurs every day to build their businesses, improve production capacity, and sustainably increase income.

https://www.expeditions.com/why-us/global-stewardship/artisan-fund/ In the Galápagos, British Columbia and the Amazon, the LEX-NG Artisan Fund organizes free workshops to teach motivated residents better ways of producing handicrafts more effectively and safely, helping them connect to their markets more successfully, and to conserve and sustain natural resources. Often, this entails utilizing recyclable materials and turning them into handicrafts that can be sold in stores, including those on Lindblad’s expeditions.

For global artist-in-residency programs see: https://www.transartists.org/funding