The Craftsmen's Guild calls on the Consell to promote a new Baleart

The Gremi d’Oficis Artesans, an association of crafts professionals affiliated to Pimem, has asked the Department of Culture and Heritage to promote the organisation of a new Crafts Fair, similar to the now defunct BaleArt which, after 25 years of success, had its last edition in 2010, the year in which it was suppressed due to the economic crisis. This is what they have conveyed to the councillor of the area, Antonia Roca Bellinfante, and the island director of Culture, Pere Ferrer Oliver, in a first cordial meeting of presentation of the entity to convey their proposals and needs.

The association’s president, Maite Ramiro, describes it as “inexplicable” that in 13 years “there has not been enough political will among the different administrations to recover a fair that highlights the talent and quality of Balearic artisans”. Fina Seguí, vice-president of the Guild, recalls that the last edition held on the Passeig des Born “was a resounding success in terms of visitors and sales”.

At the same time, the Gremi has also asked for intermediation work with the different municipalities to protect crafts in the different fairs and markets they organise, where there is a wide range of artisan products that are not manufactured or made in-house.

Future “Artesanía de Mallorca” brand

For its part, the Consell de Mallorca announced after the meeting that it will launch the “Artesanía de Mallorca” brand. A distinctive seal that aims to differentiate the island’s artisans: those who sell local, handmade products. They argued that the sector has been in decline for years, suffers from intrusion and demands to combat unfair competition. That is why the island institution is already working on different initiatives to make it easier for consumers to recognise Mallorcan artisan products. One of these initiatives is the creation of this seal.

The process of creating the brand is already underway: the Consell de Mallorca has begun to process the corporate image and the regulations. Once both are in place, the registration of the brand will begin, which could take between 12 and 18 months. Once this process has been completed, Mallorcan artisans who meet the requirements of the regulations will be able to use the brand “Artesanía de Mallorca” to accompany their products and make them more recognisable. At the moment, the sector regrets, at fairs and markets one can find a wide range of products that pass themselves off as artisans when they are not.