October 26, 2023 - Boston, MA. Indigenous Peoples’ rights organization Cultural Survival is pleased to announce the return of its beloved holiday event, the Cultural Survival Bazaar, an annual festival of Indigenous arts and cultures, December 14-17, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Boston.
The Cultural Survival Bazaars have been an annual Boston area holiday tradition for nearly five decades. Started by Harvard University Anthropologist David Maybury-Lewis and his wife, Pia Maybury-Lewis, the first Bazaar was held in 1975 at Harvard University in an effort to educate the public about Indigenous Peoples and the issues they were facing. The Cultural Survival Bazaar was a result of the Maybury-Lewises’ passion for uplifting Indigenous Peoples, strengthening Indigenous cultures, supporting Indigenous-led solutions, and working towards securing Indigenous Peoples’ rights. The Maybury-Lewises recognized the importance of Indigenous artists being able to sell their art directly to an American market.
The Cultural Survival Bazaars provide an opportunity for the public to interact with Indigenous people and experience different worldviews. With a rich tapestry of arts and crafts from around the world, shoppers are sure to find something both unique and meaningful during this gift-giving season. When purchasing arts and crafts from Indigenous artists and cooperatives, shoppers contribute to supporting millennia-old traditions and lifeways of Indigenous communities around the world. Each year, the Bazaars generate close to $500,000 for Indigenous artists, performers, and projects benefiting Indigenous communities worldwide.
After a four-year hiatus related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebration of cultural diversity returns to the Prudential Center in Boston. With free admission, the greater Boston community is invited to enjoy the annual event honoring Indigenous talent and traditions through handmade art, demonstrations, music, and dance. Enjoy jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, paintings, sculptures, and more from Indigenous artists and cooperatives from 60+ countries spanning 6 continents. Some of the participating artists include wampum artist Hartman Deetz (Mashpee Wampanoag) from Massachusetts, wire artist Bernard Domingo (Shona) from Zimbabwe, pysanka (painted eggs) artist Ganna Nepyivoda (Hutsul) from Ukraine, cashmere artisan Akhtar Mir (Kashmiri), and textile artist Timoteo Ccarita (Quechua) from Peru.
“I view Indigenous art created within the 21st century as a weaving of the long threads of ancestral knowledge together with our present realities to tell unique stories of Indigenous continuance. Indigenous art is a reflection that culture is not static. Instead, both the individuals and communities within Indigenous cultures grow and change over time, while collectively determining what to carry forward and what to leave behind. The art you will see at the Cultural Survival Bazaar celebrates who these Indigenous artists are today,” says Candyce Testa (Pequot), Cultural Survival Bazaar Events Manager.
Retablos (altarpiece boxes) artist Sebastian Palomino Jimenez (Quechua) from Peru has participated at the Bazaars for several years. “I have enjoyed meeting people from different cultures, making friends, and learning about their customs. Selling abroad has been a welcome challenge. I feel connected to my culture through my art because the Ayacuchano retablo is Peru’s cultural heritage. It represents history and is part of our family legacy,” he says.
Traditional yemeni shoemaker Selahattin Sep (Kurdish) from Turkey of Tigris Handmade says, “Visibility is so important for artisanal and cultural craft making. Indigenous art holds our history, and we want to share that culture with anyone who is curious. A Bazaar that celebrates culture is a lifeline for these traditions and a way of surviving economically and culturally.”
Enjoy an atmosphere that respects ancient craft and tradition while welcoming the opportunity to learn from and connect with Indigenous artists. This holiday season, shop Indigenous!
High-resolution photos available upon request. Contact bazaars@cs.org.
Event Information:
December 14-17, 2023
The Prudential Center
Belvidere Arcade
800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
December 14-16: 11am - 9pm
December 17: 11am - 7pm
Free Admission
Register for the event on eventbrite.
Register to volunteer
Bazaar Website
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About Cultural Survival Cultural Survival (CS) is an Indigenous-led NGO and U.S. registered non-profit that advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures, and political resilience, since 1972. For over 50 years, Cultural Survival has partnered with Indigenous communities to advance Indigenous Peoples' rights and cultures worldwide. CS envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance. The core of Cultural Survival’s efforts rests on the principles of supporting, amplifying efforts, and raising awareness of self-determination for Indigenous communities. To learn more, visit www.cs.org |
