Oaxaca, the southern Mexican state known as a global arts and culture hub, boasts a staggering array of Indigenous-led, artisan craft-based creative industries. It is also considered one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, where artisans play an important role in both stewarding the environment and utilizing natural materials in their work. Oaxaca is home to important archaeological sites, whose folklore, history, and iconography contribute to craft practices and drives additional tourism interests.
Heritage & Handicrafts: OAXACA is a community-based project that aims to deepen connections between culture bearers and with local and international markets. Sponsored by the Cultural Heritage Center in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, the two-year pilot project launched in September 2022 with the aim of increasing visibility and revenue for artisan enterprises while decreasing trafficking of objects from historic and other culturally significant sites.
The project was designed in partnership with artisans, cultural leaders, and educators. Using a cultural ecosystem model, our Center and a team from the Benito Juarez Autonomous University of Oaxaca – School of Fine Arts and the CIIDIR Oaxaca unit of the National Polytechnic Institute identified needs, relationships, and activities required to support community cultural sustainability goals. The result is a suite of research, documentation, workshops, exchanges, and presentations, all aiming to amplify artisan enterprises, enhance the visibility of the sector, and strengthen pathways for intergenerational knowledge and skills transfer.
Community Focus
The project focuses on programs in the town of Zaachila and surrounding communities in the Oaxacan Central Valleys. Zaachila is known for significant Zapotec and Mixtec archeological sites and the Danza de la Pluma (Feather Dance), an important tradition connecting the community to its tangible heritage and which uses various artisan craft practices.
