International Folk Art Market Returns to Downtown Arlington

Organizers add new activities and extend market hours for this second-annual celebration

On June 14-16, The Green at College Park on the University of Texas at Arlington campus will transform into an international marketplace unlike any other in North Texas, one with roots in a tradition named by USA Today as the “Best Art Festival in America.”

The International Folk Art Market returns to Arlington for its second year, bringing with it more than 40 master folk artists from 30 different countries including Italy, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Ukraine, South Sudan, Myanmar and Peru. Artists will show and sell a huge variety of handmade goods including jewelry, beadwork, basketry, carvings, ceramics, glasswork, metalwork, paintings, mixed media, sculpture, textiles, musical instruments, and home goods.

In addition to the artwork, the Market will feature internationally-inspired cuisine, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and VIP shopping opportunities. In 2017, the Market took place over a two-day period, but this year guests can choose from more ticket packages over a three-day period.

The Greater Good

More than $350,000 worth of art is expected to be sold at this year’s Market. Seventy-five percent of profits go home with the artists to benefit their families and communities.

“The International Folk Art Market Arlington is much bigger than the art itself, because of its dramatic economic impact on the home communities of the artists,” said Linda Marcus, Market board member and 2018 honorary chair. “Our exhibiting artists typically earn around $3 per day in their home country. As a result of their participation in the International Folk Art Market, each artist takes home an average of nearly $10,000, providing as much as five years of income that could sustain their entire community.”

Blooming Where You’re Planted

Last year marked the first for the International Folk Art Market Arlington, a cousin of the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, USA Today's pick as the “Best Art Festival in America.”

For a historical perspective, read our story about the visionary leaders who brought the Market to Downtown Arlington.

For More Information

The International Folk Art Market Arlington is produced in partnership with the Arlington Cultural Tourism Council, The University of Texas at Arlington, and the City of Arlington. For the complete schedule, ticket prices and more information, click here or call (817) 271-5809.

Getting Around Downtown

By March 2020, the transformation of Abram Street will be complete. In the meantime, track #myAbram and visit myAbram.com for the latest information about traffic routing, temporary parking and construction milestones. Download Waze for free and see real-time traffic, find optimal routes and avoid road closures, or leave your car at home and hail Via Arlington Ride Share for only $3.

About Downtown Arlington

Designated by the State of Texas as the Arlington Cultural District, Downtown Arlington blends a unique mix of activities, sights, tastes and sounds that attract visitors and locals alike. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to a top tier public research university, prolific fine and performing artists and arts institutions, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate. Downtown is located at the heart of Arlington, Texas, named by WalletHub.com in 2018 as the 10th Most Diverse City in America. Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter, follow us on Facebook,  Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, and tag us with @dtArlington.