SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 26 September (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife is organising the seventh edition of the Tricontinental Crafts Fair, which will focus on Portugal this year and take place at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Fairgrounds from 26 October to 3 November.
This year, the fair will feature a record participation of artisans, with more than 200 attending from three different continents.
The event was unveiled on Thursday at a press conference held in the Noble Hall of the island’s governing body, where the president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, along with the Minister of Education and Employment, Efraín Medina; the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Primary Sector and Animal Welfare, Manuel Fernández; the consul of Portugal in Tenerife, Vicente Álvarez; and the head of the Crafts Unit, Juan Carlos Camacho, were present.
Rosa Dávila expressed her gratitude to the entire team of the Insular Craft Company at the Tenerife Fairgrounds, as well as Efraín Medina, for their dedication.
“The Tricontinental Craft Fair would not be feasible without the unwavering support of the Tenerife Cabildo and the relentless efforts of our esteemed advisor Efraín Medina, who has devoted his life to promoting and bolstering the craft sector. Our ties with Portugal not only elevate this event, but they significantly enhance our goal of fortifying the cultural and commercial links between Tenerife, the Canary Islands, and Portugal,” stated the president, who additionally mentioned that the fair “has emerged as one of the most significant at the regional level and one of the foremost showcases for foreign crafts in Spain”.
Efraín Medina thanked the president for “her unwavering support and commitment to craftsmanship” and emphasised the collaborative efforts with the Fairgrounds.
“We function as a cohesive team, and this is the outcome. We are set to present a fair filled with excitement and exceptional quality. Moreover, it will be a family-friendly event featuring gastronomy, themed nights, exquisite music, live craft demonstrations, and much more,” he remarked.
Vicente Álvarez acknowledged the Cabildo for representing the embassy and the Republic of Portugal in Tenerife.
“This is a very significant occasion, and we are immensely grateful that Portugal has been selected as the highlighted country for this seventh Tricontinental Crafts Fair,” he stated.
Manuel Fernández also conveyed that, as the head of the Fairgrounds, it brings him “great satisfaction to host this fair,” announcing that there will be a total of 200 stands and a stage exceeding 50 square meters available for artisans.
Juan Carlos Camacho underlined the fair’s importance concerning the quality and quantity of participating artisans.
“More than 33 countries will be represented, including 30 artisans from Portugal. Additionally, there will be representatives from indigenous cultures of Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador,” he pointed out.
CERAMICS AND TILES
Portugal boasts a diverse range of artisanal products, including ceramics and tiles that embellish its main facades, carpets, tapestries, leather goods, embroidery, woodwork, jewellery, and pottery, as noted by the Cabildo.
The fair will maintain its international character, offering a platform for a wide array of Ibero-American and African crafts while promoting European representation and incorporating artisans from Tenerife as well as a representative sampling from the other islands.
Notably, last July, a delegation from the Cabildo of Tenerife, led by Efraín Medina, visited Lisbon, in partnership with the Portuguese Federation of Arts and Crafts (FPAO), to attend the Lisbon International Crafts Fair, the largest multicultural fair on the Iberian Peninsula and the second largest in Europe.
During this visit, the Tenerife delegation cultivated vital contacts that will enhance the upcoming Tricontinental Fair in October.
Furthermore, the official poster for the Tricontinental Fair, designed by Aarón Morales, was unveiled at the Lisbon City Hall alongside the Federation of Arts and Crafts of Portugal. Prior to the event, Efraín Medina convened with the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, and deputy mayor Joana Oliveira.
A REFERENCE FOR CRAFTSMANSHIP
Over the years, the Tricontinental Crafts Fair has established itself as an intercultural bridge connecting the peoples of Latin America, Africa, and southern Europe, acting as a medium for the promotion and dissemination of craft traditions from both sides of the Atlantic.
The remarkable attendance of artisans from varied backgrounds, the extensive assortment of products and techniques on show, and the positive reception by the public have positioned it as one of the most significant and beloved events within the regional fair calendar, marking it as the leading gathering for the sale of foreign crafts in Spain.
Throughout the fair, a variety of festive recreational activities will be conducted to enrich the experience and engage both attendees and participating artisans.
These will include competitions, hands-on workshops, exhibitions, fashion shows, musical performances, tastings, networking opportunities, product launches, and press engagements.
PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES
In addition, the Tenerife Cabildo is continuing with activities leading up to the Tricontinental Fair.
Following the success of the exhibition ‘Echoes of Fado in Portuguese Art (19th to 21st centuries),’ which took place in the El Sauzal Exhibition Hall, the island corporation is hosting two new previews.
The first of these events, in cooperation with the CajaCanarias Foundation, will be a series of Portuguese films commencing on Monday, 30 September, with the screening of ‘The House of the Spirits,’ followed by ‘The Russia House’ on 21 October and ‘The Letter’ on 28 October.
All screenings will commence at 7:00 p.m. at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with free admission until full capacity is reached. The films will be presented in their original format with Spanish subtitles.
Additionally, the Cabildo has organised a series of thematic routes to explore the Portuguese legacy on the island, focusing on two municipalities renowned for their heritage and historical significance, such as La Laguna and La Orotava.
In La Laguna, two routes will be conducted: on Thursday, 10 October, at 6:30 p.m., and on Friday, 25 October, at 6:30 p.m., while La Orotava will present its route on Friday, 18 October, departing from the Church of Our Lady de la Concepción and culminating at the Museum of Ibero-American Crafts of Tenerife (MAIT), where a Fado performance will take place.
Admission is complimentary, and spots are limited, thus reservations must be made by contacting 922 328 160 from Monday to Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
