The Feria de Artesanías de Ponce (English: Ponce Crafts Fair), formally, Feria de Artesanías y Muestra de Arte de Ponce (Ponce Crafts Fair and Arts Expo), is an event that takes place every year in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where artists, craftspeople and artisans showcase their products. The products showcased are traditionally hand-made and in small quantities. The fair centers around crafts that highlight the traditional cultural background of Puerto Rico, including Taino, African, and Spanish traditions. The event started in 1974 and is reported to draw "thousands of visitors".A Punto Para Otra Cumbre Artesanal en Ponce. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 35. Issue 1792. 4 to 10 April 2018. Page 10. Accessed 4 April 2018. Weblink updated 24 April 2018. It lasts three days and is held over a weekend during the month of April.

History

Handcrafts and visual arts have a long cultural history in the city of Ponce. Some of its better known plastic artists are Miguel Pou, Librado Net, and Wichie Torres. Many Ponce Historic Zone homes were detailed by local craftsmen that worked alongside prominent Ponce architects in woodworking, ironworking, and metalworking. The Feria promotes Taíno, Jíbaro and African cultures. The Taino culture was strong in the Ponce region with Taino cacique Agueybana originating from this region, and the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Park being located in Ponce's Barrio Portugués. Taíno artifacts have also been found in Ponce's Caracoles sector. Ponce was also the Island's stronghold of African culture as African slaves were brought to the Ponce area in large quantities to work the sugar fields during the 19th century sugar cane rush; the only monument to the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico and the entire Caribbean is located in Ponce.Historia de la artesanía puertorriqueña: introducción y guía de estudio. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. ca.2000. Feria de Artesanías de Ponce started in March 1974.Con cuatro décadas la Feria de Artesanías de Ponce. Sandra Torres Guzman. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 32. Issue 1582. 26 March 2014. Page 24.

Venue The celebration lasts three days and takes place during the month of March, sometimes in April, at Plaza Degetau, in Plaza Las Delicias. It was started in 1974 and has been held continuously since. The 2020 edition was not celebrated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This fair should not be confused with "Feria Anual de Artesanías" which takes place at Plaza del Caribe during the month of October and which started in 2001. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

Sponsorship

The fair is sponsored by the Centro Cultural de Ponce Carmen Solá de Pereira and the Ponce Municipal Government.Feria artesanal este fin de semana en Ponce. Primera Hora. 1 April 2011. The fair is put together with grants from the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, and the Ponce Municipal Government plus donations from businesses and local industry including Destileria Serralles.Feria de Artesanía en Ponce (Puerto Rico). Diario Artesano. 23 March 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

Composition The art expo was an additional feature of the fair and it was added in 1985.39na. Feria de Artesania y 28va. Muestra de Arte. FuturoPR. 2014. Over 150 artisans participate in the entire Fair event.Festín cultural en la plaza de Ponce. Sandra Torres Guzmán. La Perla del Sur. 25 March 2015. Accessed 13 April 2016. Weblink updated 26 February 2018. Crafts expositions include those based on wood, clay and ceramics, crystal and glass, leather, bamboo and palms, soap and wax, metal and wire, cloth, and paper. Items such as baskets, musical instruments, dolls, religious figures, paper masks and vejigantes are displayed. The crafts shown are offered for sale.Feria de Artesanías de Ponce. Travel and Sports. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

Typical program Following is the program for the 2018 Ponce Crafts Fair. The program is typical of other years activities.

Typical program TimeActivity44ta Feria de Artesanias y 33ra Muestra de Arte. Centro Cultural Carmen Sola de Pereira de Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 13 April 2018. page 34. ("Programa")Friday8:00am Registration of Artisans and Plastic Artists11:00am Fair Opens - Welcoming Remarks11:10am Plena Tres Panderos SingersNoon Workshops1:00pm Dr. Pila High School Choir2:30pm Plucked Strings Ensemble (Conjunto de Cuerdas Punteadas) 3:30pm Ponce High School Choir4:30pm Tuna Escuela de Derecho PUCPR5:30pm Minstrel Belen Marie and Sentimiento Boricua Singers6:00pm School of Bomba and Plena "Isabel Albizu Davila" and the Umoja Ensemble7:00pm Homenage8:00pm Tipico Mapeye SingersSaturday10:00am Workshops11:00am Basketry Demo by E. Marcucci y J. SotomayorNoon Steel Band1:30pm Carlos Cruz, Performer of Black Poetry2:30pm Centro Danza5:00pm Conciencia8:00pm Esencia EnsembleSunday11:00am Workshops1:00pm Muppet Orchestra2:30pm Cimarrones3:00pm Pico a Pico de Trovadores, Tipico Boricua Singers5:00pm Bomba Workshop by Rafael Mayra Alvarez8:00pm ¡Plenéalo!

See also

Carnaval de Ponce Ponce Jazz Festival Fiesta Nacional de la Danza Día Mundial de Ponce Festival Nacional de la Quenepa Bienal de Arte de Ponce Festival de Bomba y Plena de San Antón Carnaval de Vejigantes Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño

References

External links Tercera feria regional de artesanías de Ponce. Sam L. Slick Collection of Posters, 1970–2000; University of New Mexico Library.