Information for Town Halls
How can a city council help artisans?
The best support that local councils and other public entities can offer genuine artisans is to organize craft fairs, craft events, and/or themed markets, provided they showcase authentic crafts. These events should allow artisans to sell their products directly to an interested public and/or be paid for demonstrating their skills or sharing their workshops.
In this way, individual artisans can earn a living and continue their craft without needing subsidies, while the municipality enjoys a full weekend of engaging and entertaining activities and performances for all ages.
¿Porqué elegir Amata?
What sets Amata apart?
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Amata focuses on authentic craftsmanship: all products are handmade by the artisans themselves, without reselling or imports. Therefore, it doesn't compete with local businesses.
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It offers a wide variety and authenticity at its stalls, craft demonstrations, children's workshops, excellent entertainment, and meticulous presentation.
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It includes professional advertising: social media campaigns, printing and distribution of posters and brochures throughout the region, writing and sending press releases, etc.
Customized Projects
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Each project is specifically designed for your municipality and adapted to the space, budget, local preferences, terrain characteristics, etc.
Quality and On-Time Guarantee
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Amata has contacts with more than 800 artisans across much of Spain. The most suitable stalls, workshops, and demonstrations are selected for each fair or market.
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About two weeks before the event, the posters are distributed, and the organizer meets with city officials to finalize the last details, ensuring there are no surprises on setup day.
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In total, a minimum of six weeks is needed to prepare a well-organized themed fair or market.
Local Participation
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Amata welcomes the participation of local vendors, provided they meet Amata's standards regarding quality, punctuality, etc.
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Collaboration with local artists is also welcome if they meet quality criteria.
What makes a good fair?
The three stakeholders in a craft fair (the City Council, the artisans, and the public) have different expectations.
* City Councils want to revitalize the municipality, attract more visitors to the old town, hold a special event, or offer an extra attraction during local festivals. Therefore, they are interested in the event attracting a large audience and providing a great show.
* Artisans are interested, out of necessity, in the fair's success. If they cannot make a living selling their products, they cannot continue as artisans, and the craft will be lost.
* The public can be divided between those seeking fun and entertainment and those who want to see (and buy) quality handcrafted products.
To organize a fair that fulfills all these objectives, the following are essential:
1. A comprehensive advertising campaign
2. High-quality stalls and entertainment
3. Good organization
1. The advertising campaign
The advertising must be comprehensive, clear, and well-distributed. Posters and brochures must clearly communicate the what, where, and when of the event. Distribution should take place approximately ten days prior to the event in the town itself and the surrounding area. They should be displayed in highly visible locations where people will linger for a considerable amount of time: tourist offices, notice boards, and the windows or doors of bakeries, butcher shops, craft stores, cultural centers, herbalists, pharmacies, etc. In tourist areas, they must be produced in several languages (at least Spanish and English).
Press releases—preferably accompanied by appropriate photos and written in a way that allows for direct publication—must also be sent to all local media outlets and shared on social media.
2. Rigorous Selection of Participants
A successful fair or market requires more than just an engaging program and a well-presented presentation. To maintain the event's appeal, the stalls must simultaneously offer original, authentic handcrafted products. Furthermore, when they are genuine artisans, they can offer high-quality demonstrations and workshops. What the artisans offer must be high-quality, well-presented, and handmade by the person selling it.
The products don't have to be too repetitive. Some materials can be combined (ceramics, leather, wood, textiles), as long as the styles are different. It's advisable to encourage artisans to do (part of) their work at their stalls, showing the public how to work with different materials and contributing to a more vibrant and engaging fair.
3. Practical Organization
Equal attention should be paid to:
* Inviting artisans with high-quality products and attractive presentation, who are also courteous and attentive.
* Distributing the stalls, play area, attractions, and performances effectively to create an appealing overall experience and ensure the event runs smoothly.
* A map showing the location of the stalls and other facilities is essential so that each artisan can be directed to their assigned spot upon arrival.
* Verify that the products for sale are handmade by the person selling them.
* Provide sufficient and easily accessible electrical outlets and/or water connections.
* Prepare a schedule of workshops, demonstrations, and performances, clearly indicating the location of each activity, and ensure that the schedule is followed.
* Always have representatives from the organization available to answer questions, resolve problems, and guide the smooth running of the event.
Costs
As mentioned previously, we draft a specific project for each fair or market, tailored to the preferences, budget, and characteristics of the space. Furthermore, we work throughout much of Spain, so costs vary depending on the distance from our base (in the province of Alicante). We cannot provide an exact price without knowing the details of the event.
What we can say here is that Amata is a non-profit organization, so it bases the price of its proposals on actual expenses. Additionally, once the event is finalized, there will be no additional costs (except in the case of expanding the package).
We offer a complete package that includes organization, entertainment, advertising campaign, and event supervision, as well as preventative nighttime security.
What the City Council must provide
Regarding infrastructure: lighting (independent outlets, power according to stalls), water point with drainage, support space (changing rooms, restrooms) for artists and/or artisans, trash cans, street cleaning, etc.
Prior collaboration: coordination meetings, logistical support, assistance with permits, distribution of digital advertising in the municipality and the region.