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Organizers of Santa Fe’s trio of summer art markets say they are hoping to return to some form of live event this summer.
Last year’s live Santa Fe Indian Market, Spanish Market and the International Folk Art Market were canceled due to the pandemic.
Officials at the Santa Fe Indian Market hope to launch a hybrid version for this year’s annual shopping frenzy on the Plaza in August.
Southwestern Association for Indian Arts executive director Kim Peone said the umbrella organization may host an event that is part live and part virtual, depending on state mandates. Last year’s market was virtual.
Peone said board members hope to make a decision by April 1.
IFAM CEO Stuart Ashman said plans are underway for a reduced market featuring about 50 artists and 200 visitors from July 7-18. The market will potentially be divided between Museum Hill’s Milner Plaza and IFAM headquarters at 620 Cerrillos Road. Unlike the Spanish and Indian markets, the Folk Art Market is a ticketed event; organizers can control the number of visitors.
Spanish Market will return to the Plaza in some form in July, director of finance and administration Yvonne Gillespie said.
“We’re waiting for the city to decide; it looks like they’re leaning toward a broader event,” she said. “We’re very much hopeful.”
Some artists are nervous about being exposed in crowds because of the pandemic, she added.
At SWAIA, board members have discussed slashing the number of artists and confining the event to the Plaza’s perimeters without allowing the crowds to spill beyond the downtown streets. Peone said the market would need a minimum of artists to make it financially viable. In 2019, Indian Market drew between 700 and 800 artists swarming with 120,000 visitors.
“I don’t know what that break even number is yet,” she said. “The state of New Mexico has made a commitment to have a decision on outdoor events by the end of March. Also, what is the city going to expect as far as barriers and testing?”
If the state opens outdoor events, there will be a live market, she said.
“How do we respond if the rules keep changing?” Peone asked, adding, “We’re doing a virtual (market) for sure. We’re not abandoning Indian Market. The vaccination is something that has given us that pivot.”
The 2019 Indian Market drew 250 volunteers who worked 7,000 hours.
“This isn’t just about artists, it’s about collectors, it’s about volunteers,” Peone said.
