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Latin America's largest craft fair pays tribute to the Valleys of Minas Gerais
From December 4 to 8, the 35th National Craft Fair will bring three thousand artisans from all over the country, workshops, gastronomy, music and indigenous culture to Expominas. The edition innovates with the QR Code catalog and presents the Sustainability Seal for 2025
The Valleys of Minas Gerais are the honorees of the 35th National Craft Fair (FNA), which will take place between December 4 and 8 (Wednesday to Sunday), at Expominas (Avenida Amazonas, 6.200, Gameleira), and will bring together all the rich heritage of the Mucuri, Jequitinhonha and Rio Doce Valleys and the cities that surround the São Francisco River. There will be 82 municipalities from the regions present at 74 craft stands and eight gastronomy kiosks located in the foyer, and a show kitchen at the Secult space with tastings of the dishes presented to guests, located in the large pavilion.

Held by the Instituto Centro de Capacitação e Apoio ao Empreendedor (Centro Cape), the fair is considered the largest of its kind in Latin America and, in addition to revealing the Valleys that many are unaware of, with their art, cuisine, music, mineral resources, native Atlantic Forest and indigenous heritage, it will present artisans from other parts of Minas Gerais in the Bazar, Sebrae Minas, Governo de Minas, Prefeituras, Ocemg, Senar and Vale spaces, and from all other Brazilian states in the Sebrae Nacional and Artesão Individual spaces. In total, there will be three thousand exhibitors and 733 stands in an area of ​​47 thousand m², which will also have six snack bars, three spaces for workshops on techniques from the valleys and one for a talk show. The Knitwear Fair of the Southern Minas Gerais will have a special space at the event, featuring clothing items with the latest summer trends.

The fair's facilities also include wheelchairs for people with mobility difficulties, free luggage storage, free porters with carts to help visitors carry their purchases to their cars, and a changing table. According to the organizer and president of the Instituto Centro Cape, Tânia Machado, the estimated daily attendance is 20,000 people, generating a turnover of approximately R$55 million. "The fair will generate more than two thousand jobs in security, cleaning, reception, brigade, medical assistance, assembly, sound, advertising and communication services, including cultural presentations," she says.

With its traditional essence, but which values ​​innovation, the National Crafts Fair will make available a virtual catalog to transform the shopping experience, providing information and providing agility. “Upon arriving at Expominas, visitors will be able to download the catalog using a QR Code available at the event’s external secretariat and find exhibitors by name, segment, product, type or raw material. The list will remain online throughout 2025, allowing those who were unable to attend the event to find artisans of interest,” says Tânia Machado.

Another new feature of this edition is the Selo Opa stand – Organization of Artisanal Production and Sustainability Seal, where the Cape Center’s management platform, called Selo Opa, and the application questionnaire for obtaining the Sustainability Seal that will be used in 2025 will be publicized.

“Our daily actions emit greenhouse gases that accelerate climate change. It is essential to reduce and offset emissions of these substances to ensure sustainable development for the planet. We want to encourage exhibitors to transform their creations into socially fair, environmentally healthy and economically viable products, using renewable raw materials, managed and avoiding non-biodegradable materials or materials from unsustainable sources. The first step is for the artisan to answer a detailed questionnaire about conscious practices and choices, which includes a glossary to clarify the terms used. Afterwards, a specialized consultant will conduct an analysis to identify those that meet the requirements of sustainable crafts. With this, the approved exhibitors will be identified with the Sustainability Seal in the 2025 edition”, explains Tânia Machado.

Tickets for the National Crafts Fair can be picked up in advance at Sympla and at the event box office and are valid for 1 day, at the price of R$20 for full price and R$10 for half price for students (available at the event box office). People over 60, under 12 and people with disabilities do not pay, but must pick up their tickets on the virtual platform. Until 12/04, tickets for Wednesday will be free upon collection at Sympla (subject to sell-out). Tickets will be sold at the gate for R$20. The collection and parking fees at Expominas are managed by the third-party company responsible and the event has no participation.
The National Handicraft Fair is part of the Brazilian Calendar of Exhibitions and Fairs of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce (MDIC), and is organized by the Center for Training and Support for Entrepreneurs (Centro Cape), through the Federal Law of Incentive to Culture – Rouanet Law, sponsored by Copasa and the City of Belo Horizonte, through Belotur, with support from Central Mãos de Minas, the State Secretariat of Culture and Tourism of Minas Gerais (Secult-MG), the Secretariat of Economic Development (SEDE), the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of the State of Minas Gerais (Emater-MG) and Sebrae Nacional, and media partner NEOOH.

The importance of institutional support for holding the FNA

Tânia Machado emphasizes that holding the National Handicraft Fair is only possible thanks to the support of sponsors and supporters. "Some, in addition to institutional support, provide funding, such as Copasa and the City of Belo Horizonte, through Belotur. Others do so through free advertising, such as NEOOH, which advertises the fair on all its billboards throughout the city, including at the Belo Horizonte airport," she comments.

Machado reports that Secult-MG participates with sponsorship and operationalization of the gastronomy area; Emater-MG provides logistical support in coordinating the cities honored in the valleys; and the Secretariat of Economic Development, in addition to supporting the cities honored, has been a strategic partner in coordinating the event's scenography. "This year, the Avenida Central da Feira, with the space in honor of Dona Isabel's 100th birthday, is the result of this partnership," she explains.

"We cannot fail to mention Sebrae Nacional, which makes it possible, through the acquisition of land, for all Brazilian states to be present at the event," adds the FNA organizer.

The music that comes from the Valleys

To speak of the cultural riches of the Minas Valleys is to speak of verse, guitar, dance, circle games, songs, revelry, maracatu. Check out the confirmed attractions that will sing the music of the Valleys:

04/12
3:00 p.m.: Mensageiro
5:30 p.m.: Indigenous groups
6:30 p.m.: Mensageiro

05/12
3:00 p.m.: Marujada de Conceição
5:30 p.m.: Indigenous groups
7:00 p.m.: Cavalo Marinho

06/12
4:00 p.m.: Cirandeiras de Minas
5:30 p.m.: Indigenous groups
7:00 p.m.: Arturos

07/12
12:00 p.m.: Orquestra de Violeiros
3:00 p.m.: Aruanda
5:30 p.m.: Indigenous groups
6:30 p.m.: Terno do Binga

08/12
11:30 a.m.: Bloco de Pífano
3:00 p.m.: Boi Rosado
5:30 p.m.: Lua Nova
7:00 p.m.: Indigenous groups

National Handicraft Fair celebrates the diversity of indigenous culture

As in all editions, the FNA dedicates a special space to indigenous culture. This year, 55 groups will present their products, dances and body paintings. The following ethnic groups will be present: Kariri Xocó, Arapowã Kakyá, Waura, Kamayurá, Quechua, Fulni-ô, Pataxó, Tupi, Tupinikim, Wai Wai, Tukunã, Fulkaxó, Pankararé, Apodonepá, Guarani, Kaingang, Xerente, Baré, Terena and Galibi Marworno.

Workshops with master craftsmen
Visitors to the National Crafts Fair will have the opportunity to learn from the masters of this prehistoric art. There will be workshops on ceramics, weaving, weaving, musical instruments and painting techniques using the typologies of the Jequitinhonha Valley, Mucuri, Rio Doce and cities surrounding the São Francisco River. Registration must be done on site.

Schedule subject to change without notice:

Barro, room 01
04/12: 3pm to 5pm | 6pm to 8pm
05/12: 3pm to 5pm | 5pm to 7pm
06/12: 3pm to 5pm | 5pm to 7pm
07/12: 11am to 1pm | 2pm to 4pm | 5pm to 7pm
08/12: 12pm to 2pm | 3pm to 5pm | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Musical instrument, room 02
12/04: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
12/05: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
12/06: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
12/07: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
12/08: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Weaving, room 02
12/04: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
12/05: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
12/06: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
12/07: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
12/08: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Weaving, room 03
12/04: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM | 5pm to 7pm
05/12: 3pm to 5pm | 5pm to 7pm
06/12: 3pm to 5pm | 5pm to 7pm
07/12: 12pm to 2pm | 3pm to 5pm | 6pm to 8pm
08/12: 12pm to 2pm | 3pm to 5pm | 6pm to 8pm
National Crafts Fair Areas
Entrance via Av. Amazonas: Indigenous Space
Foyer:
Bazaar Space
Sebrae Minas
Government of Minas Space
Start of the Vales de Minas space
Grand Pavilion:
Continuity of the Vales de Minas space
8 kiosks with cuisine from the Vales de Minas
3 workshop spaces
Gastronomy of Vales de Minas
Sebrae National Space
Senar Space
Vale do Rio Doce Space
Ocemg and OCB Space
City Halls Space
Individual Craftsman Space
South of Minas Knitwear Fair Space
Children's Space
Food Space

Service: 35th National Crafts Fair
Date: December 4 to 8, 2024
Hours: 2 pm to 10 pm on the 4th, 5th, 6th (Wednesday to Friday) | 2pm to 9pm on the 7th and 8th (Saturday and Sunday)
Location: Expominas BH (Avenida Amazonas, 6.200, Gameleira)
Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/evento/35-feira-nacional-de-artesanato-vales-de-minas/2574986
Information: @feiranacionaldeartesanato, www.feiranacionaldeartesanato.com.br
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• Tags
• #Largest Fair
• #Crafts
• #Latin America
• #Minas Gerais
• #National Fair
• #indigenous