National Fund for the Promotion of Handicrafts (FONART)
FONART is the fund of the social development sector, which focuses on facilitating the integration of artisans in domestic markets; encourage the development of quality products; promoting competitiveness and recognition, and the marketing thereof.
FONART promotes the cultural industry through different policies, notably the purchase of products to Mexican artisans through the "Competition for Handicraft Acquisition", in which people can participate if they are Mexican, of legal age and if they have an income below the wellbeing line. Priority is given to disabled persons and to indigenous groups. It should be noted that this project has focused on putting into practice the provisions of the Convention of 2005.
Additionally, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, the aforementioned Fund recognizes artisans through "FONART’s Popular Art Contest", whose objective is (monetarily) rewarding craftsmen of legal age, of the different regions and production centers of the country, whose work encourage the preservation, the rescue or the innovation of handicrafts, as well as those that improve the work techniques and that recover the use and sustainable utilization of natural resources, regardless of their income level.
The outcome includes the preservation and enhancement of a space for the recognition and projection of Mexican artisans, which provides visibility to their work and offers business opportunities for their products. Simultaneously, it allows them to compare their work with their competitors and thus improve their processes, the quality of their materials and increases the creativity employed in the production of handicrafts.
The Fund earmarked $328,371,142.10 MXN from 2012 to 2015.
The Fund from 2012 to 2015, has benefitted 91,634 craftsmen, of which 65,610 were women. This represents 71.6% of the program’s beneficiaries, contributing to the federal public policy for gender inclusion in all the public administration.
After the good acceptance and outcome of the aforementioned contests, there are plans to pursuit both programs in 2016, with the objective of benefiting more artisans in order to contribute to their economic independence and encourage the artisanal activity and development in Mexico.