WCCNA and Ferinart International Festival 2010

The Ferinart International artisan’s festival was held in San Juan from April 30 to May 9,
2010. The United Nations proclaimed 2010 “International Year for the Rapprochement of
Cultures,” and the Ferinart festival is part of the official program for those celebrations. The
featured an open air market located in the historic center of Old San Juan in Plazas Colón and
Arturo Somohano. In addition to the 125 artisans from the host area of Puerto Rico, there were
over 70 artisans from over 32 different countries participating. During the celebration of Ferinart,
a series of special entertainment events were offered that ranged from musical programs in Plaza
Colón, to conferences, workshops, contests and performances for children, and demonstrations
of art craft by master artisans. The demonstrations from master artisans varied widely and
included: Japanesse braided fibers, blown glass, vidrio soplado, weaving of miniatures in horse
hair, traditional Puerto Rican paper mache and coconut masks, woodworking, clay, bamboo,
carving wooden saints, bobbin lace and several other forms of craftsmanship.

Opening Ceremonies for Ferinart

The World Craft Council of North America (WCCNA) was represented by their
President, Cindy Bowden. She participated in the opening ceremony speeches with the United
Nations delegates, the Mayor of San Juan, the Cultural administrator of San Juan, and Zulma
Santiago (the conference organizer). Bowden also spoke at the morning learning sessions where
she described WCCNA to the craft vendors. She met with delegates from the United Nations as
well as representatives from the national craft organizations of Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia,
Martinique, Haiti and Dominica. Over a dozen new artists added to the WCCNA’s webpage. In
addition to new artists, the WCCNA also invited three highly respected individuals to join their
board of directors: Zulma Santiago (who will be representing the artisans of Puerto Rico), and
Nicole Morisot, and Gerard Caillet (who will both be national representatives for Martinique).
 Nicole Morisot, and Gerard Caillet Steve Miller, Zulma Santaigo, Wendy
Rosen, Cindy Bowden

Zulma Santiago and Wendy Rosen are two of WCCNA’s newest board members, both
are an amazing asset for the organization. Zulma is responsible for the success of Ferinart and
organizes several other similar festivals throughout the country of Puerto Rico. Her next event is
scheduled for June 21, 2010 and will feature music as well as the artwork of over 200 artists.
Zulma also initiated a program, Feria Artesanal de Plaza Las Américas, and coordinated special
exhibits at the Galería de Arte de Plaza Las Américas. This not only allows the crafters a willing
consumer pool that they would otherwise have been isolated from, but also provides them with
lessons in business management, product pricing, and accounting. The crafters are rotated in and
out of the kiosks on a regular basis to allow everyone an opportunity. In addition to all of this,
Zulma is also president of Zulma Santiago & Consultores, sits as a Member of the Rector’s
Advisory Board for Turabo University Humanist Studies Center & Museum, acts as an
Economic and Tourism Department Consultant for San Juan Municipality, a Cultural Matters
Consultant for Fonalledas Enterprises, Inc., and provides her services as a Humanist Lecturer at
the Puerto Rican Humanities Foundation.