This year, the artisans of the island of Tenerife, about 115 of them, masters of the 87 crafts cataloged, are eagerly anticipating seven large fairs. Those interested can still sign up for any of these events until the 20th of this month. The Island Council has opened the registration period for these sector events that will take place in six municipalities until early 2025, offering a total of 226 spaces to accommodate as many artisan stalls. Specifically, it is the IV Crafts Market (Puerto de la Cruz); the II Patron Saint’s Fair of Canarias (Candelaria); the II Crafts Fair in El Sauzal; The XIII Island Crafts Fair (Adeje); the I Christmas Crafts Market (Puerto de la Cruz); the XXVII Crafts Fair on Reyes’ day (Santa Cruz), and, finally, the XVI Christmas Crafts Market (La Laguna).
Locations
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Artisans can submit their applications at any of the venues (sales points) of the Insular Company of Crafts SA that have been set up to receive the documentation. There are four such venues:
Kiosk Las Américas, on Rafael Puig Lluvina avenue, in Adeje. Open from 10:00 to 16:00.
Santa Cruz Shop, at Alameda del Duque Santa Elena, Plaza de España. Opening hours: 10:00 to 16:00.
Customs House, Las Lonjas street, s/n, Puerto de la Cruz. Open from 10:00 to 19:00.
Ibero-American Crafts Museum of Tenerife (MAIT). Tomás Zerolo street, 34, La Orotava. Open from 10:00 to 15:00.
Strategy
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These fairs are part of the strategy of the Insular Crafts Plan developed by the Tenerife Island Council, which envisages organizing meetings to enhance the sector and provide new sales opportunities.
Artisan participation must primarily meet professionalism and continuous production criteria. Therefore, to participate in any of the events convened, it is necessary to meet the following requirements: hold a craftsman card, issued by the insular Corporation and valid at the time of submitting the participation application, as well as have own production, intended for sale, sufficient to meet the anticipated demand during the course of the fairs, with a total value (RRP) of at least 1,500 Euros in each of the fairs requested.
Participation applications will be formalized on the corresponding official form, duly completed in all its sections and signed by the applicant. This information and the selection criteria can be consulted by interested parties on the website https://artenerife.com/convocatoria-procedimiento-seleccion-participacion-ferias-artesania-tenerife-20.
IV Market
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The 4th Crafts Market in Puerto de la Cruz will take place on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of July in Plaza Reyes Católicos, and will host a maximum of 30 artisans. There will be 30 stalls of 9 square meters (3×3), for individual use.
Patron Saint of Canarias
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The 2nd Canary Islands Patron Saint’s Fair in the municipality of Candelaria will be held in August, at a location yet to be determined, and will also accommodate a maximum of 30 artisans. Infrastructure: 30 stalls of 9 square meters (3×3) for individual use.
The 2nd Crafts Fair in El Sauzal will occupy, with 30 exhibitors, the Plaza del Príncipe (El Sauzal-Casco) on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of September. There will be thirty individual booths.
The already established 13th Island Crafts Fair will welcome 30 artisans in Adeje in November, taking advantage of the mild climate in the south of the island. The location where 30 stands will also be set up is yet to be determined.
27th Edition of the Reyes Craft Fair in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The 27th edition of the Reyes Craft Fair, from 2nd to 5th January 2025, will take place at the usual location of Plaza del Príncipe in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This time, a total of 46 artisans from the island will be able to showcase their work. The infrastructure will consist of 46 modular stands, each covering 4.80 square metres (2x 2.40).
La Laguna Christmas Craft Market
The 16th La Laguna Christmas Craft Market, from 2nd to 5th January 2025, will once again return to Plaza del Adelantado in La Laguna. There will be space for 30 artisans from Tenerife, each with their own stalls spanning 9 square metres (3×3) to display their unique products to the public.
Craft Trades on the Island
The island boasts almost 90 craft trades, with 31 of them facing serious risk of extinction. From saddle making to bag manufacturing; in other words, from A to Z, passing through traditional pottery, mosaics, embroidery, lacework, basket weaving, cutlery crafting, lace making, crochet, printing and engraving, luthier (musical instrument maker), leatherworking, cigars, floral decorations, weaving, wood turning, and stained glass. This unique wealth is the mission of the entire society of Tenerife, with the Cabildo taking the lead in protecting and preserving it.
Boosting Craft Fairs
This year, the Tenerife Cabildo has allocated an exclusive 50,000 Euros to boost Craft Fairs across the island’s municipalities. The Employment Councillor, Efraín Medina, highlights this initiative as an encouragement and promotion of local artisanal production commercialisation. Medina points out that “with these grants, the aim is to reach all 31 municipalities on the island so that their residents can see and purchase what our artisans create.” He further emphasises that “craftsmanship is part of our most authentic identity and heritage; therefore, we engage with all those responsible for craftsmanship and heritage in Tenerife to enhance trade fairs and other forms as a fundamental way to market our innovative and traditional artisanal products.” Ultimately, these are “development actions to add more value to our trades.” Efraín Medina reflects: “We cannot lose our craftsmanship because it identifies us as a territory.” In conclusion, the Cabildo’s councillor argues: “Handicrafts are part of the legacy of our ancestors, the inheritance from those who have already left us.”
