New York opportunity for Pacific artisans

Cultural producers from Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands now have a rare opportunity to showcase their Pacific talent and products at next year’s Artisan Resources @ NYNOW Tradeshow in the United States of America.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) are inviting cultural enterprises in the crafts, visual arts and fashion sectors from Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands to apply for funded participation at the popular tradeshow which attracted over 30,000 buyers from over 80 countries this year.

The trade mission opportunity is made possible with the support of the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states through the “Enhancing the Pacific Cultural Industries: Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands” project.

The project is managed by SPC’s Social Development Division in collaboration with PIFS, the Fiji Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Samoa Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture and Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism along with the Fiji Arts Council, Samoa Arts Council and Solomon Islands Arts Alliance.

The trade mission is being implemented in partnership with ByHand Consulting, a US-based consulting firm that is a key advisor to Artisan Resource. 

ByHand recruits new exhibitors, assists with recruiting qualified US buyers, and conducts all training seminars for exhibitors and buyers. 

The trade mission aims to develop the profile of Pacific cultural producers in the international market whilst also exposing the selected enterprises to international market trends, buyer demands and export distribution expectations.

Submissions containing a completed application form, product images and a price list, must be submitted to SPC’s Social Development Division by 20September, 2015.

The Artisan Resources @ NYNOW Tradeshow will take place in New York from 31 January to 3 February, 2016.