Fes Crafts Fair and workshops

10.11.09

On October 2-4, 2009 the American Language Center-Fez and ALIF, in partnership with Al Akhawayn University, the Ministry of Artisanat, Peace Corps, USAID and Culture Vultures, hosted the Marché Maroc Arts and Craft Fair. On Friday, Al Akhawayn University gave a full day of business and marketing workshops at ALC for the 59 participating artisans. Artisanal couscous was provided by the Ennahda Women’s Association for more than 70 hungry people involved in the workshops. In addition to launching their Friends of ALC program, ALC Fez hosted a celebratory concert of traditional desert music, featuring the talented and animated Mouloud El Meskaoui of Errachidia. The participants from Marche Maroc, artisans, Peace Corps volunteers, Friends of ALC, ALIF students, and ALC staff came together to celebrate and enjoy the percussive music and dancing. Artisans from all across Morocco participated in the Crafts Fair, representing a diverse selection of indigenous handicrafts. The Fez community was invited to attend this important weekend-long event to support the traditional handicrafts of Morocco, interact directly with the artisans themselves, and support fair wages in the arts and crafts. The overall result was that nearly all who made the effort to attend the fair didn’t go away empty-handed. Products were for sale at prix fixe, and what’s more, the overall trade of the weekend reached 60,000 DH. The artisans, some of whom had never left their region or met fellow artisans from other parts of the country, said they had the time of their lives. It was a rarity to be treated so well and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. A success all round, we hope that the ALC and Marche Maroc will work together again next year.