The Marketplace honors the creativity, cultural heritage, and masterful skill of our Festival participants. Your purchase not only supports artist and artisan groups but also contributes to the sustained development of traditional crafts worldwide and, ultimately, the mission of the Smithsonian.
This exceptional shopping experience is your opportunity to share the inspired—and inspiring—sights and sounds of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, both online throughout the year and on the National Mall during the annual event. Shoppers will find beautiful works created by past Festival participants as well as a global community of talented artisans.
During the Festival, the Marketplace is open every day, with special events as announced. Stop by to pick up something special for a loved one, to watch an artist demonstration, or to discover new music from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Year-round, explore the online Marketplace presented in collaboration with NOVICA, the the world’s largest impact-retailer for artisans and craftspeople around the world.
With a mission to empower artisans and preserve culture worldwide, NOVICA has become one of the largest handmade gift and home decor websites in the world, selling the works of thousands of artisans and featuring over 50,000 limited edition works of art. NOVICA was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with regional artisan empowerment hubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Our priority is to honor individuals demonstrating their cultural heritage on the National Mall during the annual Folklife Festival. All of our work is guided by fair-trade principles. We develop transparent and accountable relationships and pay artisans promptly and fairly. By providing training to those who are new to selling on a global scale and inviting past participants to sell their work on consignment, we extend our support beyond the life of the two-week Festival.