SENATE MEMORIAL 61

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Nancy Rodriguez

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE VIBRANCY AND SUCCESS OF THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET AND DECLARING FEBRUARY 21, 2013 "SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, the Santa Fe international folk art market began ten years ago to help financially sustain folk artists, preserve folk art traditions, foster multicultural educational exchange and unite people of the world; and

     WHEREAS, the market has become the largest of its kind in the world, having generated more than sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000) in artist sales and having involved six hundred fifty master folk artists from eighty countries on six continents; and

     WHEREAS, folk artists and the organizations that they belong to have retained ninety percent of the money from artist sales, and the market has positively impacted the lives of over one million people worldwide; and

     WHEREAS, it is estimated that the market has contributed ninety million dollars ($90,000,000) to Santa Fe's and New Mexico's economies, including eight hundred ninety-eight thousand five hundred eighty-one dollars ($898,581) in state gross receipts tax since 2007; and

     WHEREAS, the cultural affairs department and the museum of international folk art have enthusiastically supported the market's development; and

     WHEREAS, more than three thousand four hundred people have volunteered one hundred twenty thousand hours of their time, valued at five million one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($5,120,000), to the market; and

     WHEREAS, award-winning Santa Fe author Carmella Padilla has written The Work of Art: Why Folk Art Matters, a book that commemorates the tenth anniversary of the market and explores why everyone should preserve folk art traditions; and

     WHEREAS, the market organization has collaborated with the United States department of state and others to establish the alliance for artisan enterprise, a group of twenty-two public and private stakeholders who endeavor to enhance folk artists' livelihoods, crafts communities, cultural heritage and social and economic development; and

     WHEREAS, donors, volunteers, staff members and folk artists, along with the people of the cultural affairs department, the museum of international folk art, the museum of New Mexico foundation, the city of Santa Fe, the legislature and the market's board of directors, have worked tirelessly for and given generously to the market;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Santa Fe international folk art market be celebrated for its ten years of uniting people of the world and improving the lives of folk artists; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Santa Fe international folk art market organization be commended for its part in establishing the alliance for artisan enterprise; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all New Mexico residents be urged to attend the market to be held this year on July 12 through July 14; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that February 21, 2013 be declared "Santa Fe International Folk Art Market Day" in the senate.

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