La Jornada: Original Workshop, action to regulate the profit of crafts

Given the need to regulate the commercial exploitation of the iconography of indigenous peoples, “even by brands outside the nation,” the federal government will hold a catwalk in November at the Los Pinos Cultural Complex with 21 pieces made, based on traditional knowledge, by artisans and designers, as part of the Original Workshop program, which will be sold at Fonart, reported the Undersecretary of Culture, Marina Núñez Bespalova.

41 master craftsmen participate in this process, who, he noted, develop proposals to strengthen their technical and commercial capabilities.

The collection, which includes everything from basic to executive pieces – such as a white dress with Papantla embroidery, and a navy blue wool jacket and skirt with beige embroidery – was established based on a collaboration model that respects the legal framework, and is particularly ethical, fair and egalitarian, with “those who do not belong to artisanal communities.”

Universities and specialists in textile innovation, pattern making and color participate, he mentioned yesterday at the morning conference.

“We are going to show the pieces in November,” and the artisans “are not only paid for labor,” but based on specific tabulators that consider their work time, technique, and indirect expenses.

So “they receive the resource for having made the piece, an extraordinary payment such as a royalty for their design right on the piece that is sold”, in addition, on the collective rights already governed by law.

The catwalk will take place in November and the pieces – from basic to executive – are expected to be exhibited starting on the 12th of that same month.

Advances in the renovation of art schools

On the other hand, the federal Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, indicated that at the end of the year they will conclude the renovation and equipment of the art schools, with an investment of 1,950 million pesos.

“They are looking like new,” with the adaptation of artistic education spaces, dance halls, changing of staves, new instruments, waterproofing, painting,” in addition to highlighting the two new schools, the Cinematographic Training Center in Chapultepec and El Arsenal, a center for artistic and trade training and production.