Santa Fe’s Folk Art Market Has New Director – From San Diego

Shawn McQueen Ruggeiro

The San Diego resident was one of about a dozen finalists, Espinar said. Market co-founder and former executive director Charlene Cerny retired in September.

“She (McQueen-Ruggeiro) stood out because she’s an excellent communicator,” Espinar said. “We were extremely impressed with her international, on-the-ground experience all over the world.

“Shawn has a very deep appreciation for what Charlene and the market board have put into place,” she continued. “We see her as a builder.”

For McQueen-Ruggeiro, the job is the culmination of a dream.

She is the former director of institutional development for Project Concern International, a nonprofit she worked with for eight years. McQueen-Ruggeiro led the launch of a PIC initiative called Women Empowered, a savings-based program for women in developing countries. Instead of awarding them micro-loans, the nonprofit taught the women how to save. They compiled the money to give loans back to themselves, she said.

“It’s been extremely successful in Africa,” McQueen-Ruggeiro said in a telephone interview from San Diego, where she was driving home to pack her clothes to start work on Monday in Santa Fe.

“There’s a different response when they are doing this as a group,” she added. “There’s a real ownership. I see a lot of similar qualities in the (Folk Art) market.”

The new director had visited Santa Fe frequently and attended her first Folk Art Market last summer. She always bought a piece of folk art to take home on her travels across the globe. But Santa Fe was different.

“I can’t tell you how much money I spent,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t want my husband to know. When you travel, there’s such a mix in quality. These were museum-quality works. It’s like this massive shopping opportunity with a cause. And you have the maker right there.”

Among other responsibilities, McQueen-Ruggeiro involved some high-profile people in her former organization’s work, including Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, the first democratically elected president of Zambia (Kenneth Kaunda), Kenyan activist Wahu Kaara, Zimbabwean international recording star Oliver Mtukudzi, and singer/songwriter/guitarist Bonnie Raitt.

Raitt came via her friendship with Mtukudzi, McQueen-Ruggeiro said.

“I invited Bonnie to come to one event and give him an award,” she explained. “She was amazing. She’s an incredibly bright woman. Not only did she speak eloquently and present, she got up and played (music) with him.”

McQueen-Ruggeiro is already thinking of inviting Raitt to the Folk Art Market.

“I’m sure she would love it,” she said. “She’s for sure on my radar.”

Last summer, the director-to-be was overwhelmed by the sight of the Santa Fe market’s army of 1,600 volunteers.

“I’ve never seen an event like that where 1,600 people give their time and talent,” she said.

She had thought of organizing a similar event in San Diego, but she didn’t think the city could handle it.

McQueen-Ruggeiro discovered the Santa Fe job opening when she returned home.

The job dovetails nicely with her two greatest passions: developing countries and art.

“It’s like a miracle,” she said. “My whole life, I feel like I’ve been leading up to this.”

Starting Monday, McQueen-Ruggeiro plans to immerse herself in the market for the next few months.

“Before I even start, I really want to understand what their priorities are,” she said.

The 10th Annual Santa Fe International Folk Art Market will take place July 12, 13 and 14.