Jalisco’s thousands of artesanos (craftsmen and women) received a verbal promise of a better future from Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, who dropped into Tlaquepaque last week to host the annual National Ceramics Prize ceremony.
Peña Nieto said he has instructed the Social Development Agency (Sedesol) to “give attention” to Mexico’s artesanos, specifically in their “development, technical assistance and marketing.”
The president said he would like to see greater international recognition for Mexico’s fine crafts and promised increased funding to promote products.
In the 37th edition of the ceramics prizes, Peña Nieto handed out 30 awards valuing one million pesos. Some 920 crafts people from all over Mexico participated in the contest.
Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sandoval said he was proud that more than half the winners were from Tonala or Tlaquepaque. One of his goals, he said, was to raise the profile of artisania so that it again becomes a viable career option for young people.
Around 70 percent of Mexico’s artisans are women.