The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism organized a conference-workshop on April 15 that brought together well-known artists and artisans to share experiences and recommendations aimed at strengthening their work and inspiring new creative processes. The event marked World Art Day, which is celebrated annually on this date.
The initiative seeks to highlight the importance of art in cultural preservation, innovation, and economic development. By connecting recognized artists with local artisans, the ministry aims to foster creativity while supporting technical growth within Peru’s artisanal sector.
National artists Marcelo Wong, known for his international sculpture work, and Harry Chávez, recognized for visual pieces inspired by pre-Hispanic cultures and Amazonian communities, participated in the event. The program included a specialized workshop on colorimetry led by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), designed to enhance both technical skills and creative capacities among artisans. This collaboration with academia is intended to improve design quality as well as product competitiveness in the artisan market.
Officials attending included Rusbel Hernández, Director General of Handicrafts at the ministry; Diana Olguín, Director of Artisan Development; and Maria del Pilar Kucurelo, Dean of PUCP’s Faculty of Art and Design. The activity aligns with state efforts to promote cultural industries as sources of employment while preserving national identity.
World Art Day was established by UNESCO in 2019 during its General Conference to underscore art’s significance globally. According to UNESCO, art fosters creativity, innovation, cultural diversity, knowledge exchange, and dialogue among peoples through events such as debates or exhibitions held worldwide every April 15.
The Ministry contributes to cultural progress by fostering sustainable tourism and social inclusion according to its official website. It operates autonomously within Peru’s executive branch according to its official website while advancing strategies for foreign trade expansion and sustainable tourism development according to its official website. Oversight falls under the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism according to its official website, serving communities across Peru with a focus on trade facilitation according to its official website. Collaboration extends across public-private partnerships including PromPerú according to its official website, enhancing export growth since it was established in 2002 according to its official website.
