San Cristóbal de las Casas

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2015

City presentation

San Cristóbal de las Casas, located in Chiapas, Mexico, has a population of 186,000, with a strong presence of indigenous communities who contribute significantly to the city’s crafts and folk art sector. This sector is the main driver of the local economy, with traditional crafts like blacksmithing, pottery, woodcarving, amber jewellery, and embroidery showcased across ten neighbourhoods.

Deeply connected to ancestral traditions, crafts foster social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. The city’s long-standing Spring Fair and Peace, held every April, celebrates local art and empowers indigenous women. In 2012, San Cristóbal launched the Maya World Textile AC Centre, benefiting 800 artisans from 30 indigenous communities, becoming a national model for promoting and protecting crafts.

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Sharjah

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019

City presentation

Harjah, one of the seven emirates of the UAE, spans 235 square kilometers along the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean. The city celebrates its cultural heritage through traditional crafts like ‘Talli’ weaving, which plays a vital role in supporting female artisans. Though niche, this craft sector is growing and contributes to Sharjah’s cultural identity.

Sharjah actively promotes its heritage through festivals like Sharjah Heritage Days and workshops organized by the Sharjah Art Foundation, which preserve and transfer traditional skills to future generations. The Bidwa initiative further supports this sector, providing vocational training to over 60 artisans, empowering women, and opening new market opportunities.

With Emiri Decree No. 5 of 2017, Sharjah ensures long-term preservation of its cultural heritage in line with international standards. As a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, Sharjah plans to foster collaborations with UNESCO cities, create exhibition spaces, offer vocational training, and establish an awards scheme to recognize artisans’ contributions.

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Sokodé

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017

City presentation

Sokodé, Togo’s second-largest city with 95,070 residents, is celebrated for its weaving tradition, crucial for producing daily clothing and ceremonial garments like embroidered boubous for Tem knights. Weaving represents over 35% of the city’s craft sector, significantly boosting the local economy. Major events, such as the Togo Sokodé International Fair and Gadao-Adossa Festival, promote the arts, while the Inter-Professional Grouping of Craftsmen and Women of Togo (GIPATO) trains new weavers in traditional techniques.

The 2015-2019 Communal Development Plan prioritizes culture for sustainable urban growth, focusing on local tourism, workshops for artisans, and plans for a communal museum. As a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, Sokodé aims to implement the SOS Crafts Project to engage youth and marginalized women, establish a crafts and folk art farm, and foster collaboration among artisans to tackle challenges and enhance their skills.

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Tétouan

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017

City presentation

With a population of 400,000, Tétouan is Morocco’s second-largest economic hub in the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region. The city’s craft traditions date back to its 15th-century founding, and its urban planning reflects its craftsmanship, with specialized craft neighborhoods for Zellige, Taajira embroidery, and wood and ironwork. Drawing from its Arab-Andalusian heritage, Tétouan’s arts and crafts are known for their masterful craftsmanship, supported by nearly 6,000 craft units and 150 young artisans entering the market annually.

Crafts in Tétouan play a significant role in community-building and contribute to the local economy. Events like the Rencontres des Artisans and the Marché au fil du temps, held alongside the Women’s Voices International Music Festival, showcase local artisans, particularly women. Tétouan’s Urban Development Programme and Regional Development Plan have upgraded community spaces, modernized craft infrastructure, and supported the federation of craft guilds to promote networking and training opportunities.

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Trinidad

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019

City presentation

Trinidad, located on the southern coast of Santi Spíritus, Cuba, boasts a rich history of craftsmanship, especially in fiber fabrics, which continues to be a vital source of income for its residents, generating nearly US$500,000 annually. Local craft traditions are passed down through generations and preserved within homes. The city organizes numerous exhibitions, fairs, and seasonal markets, offering artisans platforms to display their work, such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day events. Permanent exhibitions, like those by artists Magalis Ramírez and Lucía Jiménez, also invite public interaction and offer summer courses.

Trinidad’s handicrafts sector aligns with Goal 8 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on gender equality by promoting female artisans. Craft schools and workshops, as well as the School of Trades of Restoration, teach traditional techniques and introduce new technologies, while helping marginalized youth enhance their skills and integrate into the city’s social fabric.

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Tunis

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017

City presentation

Tunis, the capital of Tunisia since the 13th century, is home to 638,850 inhabitants and boasts a rich cultural and historical legacy. Positioned strategically in the Mediterranean and at the crossroads of trans-Saharan trade routes, it has long been a trade and cultural hub. The Medina of Tunis, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, is a living symbol of 18th-century urban planning and a center for craft creation, with about forty souks showcasing artisans’ work.

Key cultural events in Tunis include the Salon de l’Artisanat, Tunisia’s most popular crafts fair, attracting 140,000 visitors in 2017, and the Medina Festival, launched in 1982, celebrating the city’s heritage. Since 2000, the Municipality and the Association for the Protection of the Tunis Medina (ASM) have spearheaded efforts to rehabilitate slum areas, restore historic buildings, and revitalize the city’s traditional urban landscape, involving both residents and artisans in the process to promote and preserve craft professions.

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Ulaanbaatar

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2023

City presentation

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