Peru's Ministry of Culture to Host Major "Ruraq Maki" Handicraft Expo
Peru's Ministry of Culture is set to launch a new edition of "Ruraq Maki, hecho a mano," the nation's most significant exhibition and sale of traditional crafts and art. This year marks the event's 20th anniversary, solidifying its role in preserving intangible cultural heritage and empowering communities with ancestral knowledge. The National Edition, scheduled from July 17 to July 29, 2026, will take place at the Ministry's central headquarters in San Borja, with free admission for the public. Operating hours will be from 12:00 p.m. on opening day, and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the remainder of the event.
This edition will feature 210 artisan collectives, with 200 representing all of Peru's regions, 21 indigenous peoples, and the Afro-Peruvian community. These participants will showcase diverse creations made with traditional, generational techniques. Additionally, 44 collectives include distinguished artisans recognized as "Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura" or recipients of prestigious national awards. The expo will also highlight 30 craft lines declared as national cultural heritage and two Peruvian artisanal expressions inscribed by UNESCO. For the first time, "Ruraq Maki" will host an international guest: a delegation of 10 artisans and traditional artists from Ecuador, facilitated by CIDAP and based on agreements from the Ecuador-Peru Binational Cabinet in December 2025. This collaboration aims to foster cultural exchange and allow visitors to experience Ecuadorian crafts from its various regions.
Since its inception, "Ruraq Maki" has aimed to safeguard Peruvian crafts through platforms for appreciation, circulation, and responsible consumption, promoting fair trade and intergenerational knowledge transfer. The event has grown significantly, occurring twice annually since 2012. It surpassed 100 exhibitors in 2015 and reached 200 collectives in 2024, generating over two million soles in sales per national edition. Its impact extends to research and documentation, with six specialized publications and 54 documentaries produced. These efforts have led to 48 artisanal practices being declared national heritage and two expressions listed by UNESCO. During the opening ceremony, the Ministry will honor master ceramist Gerásimo Sosa Alache with the "Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura" distinction for his contributions to Chulucanas pottery and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
The "Ruraq Maki, hecho a mano" exhibition serves as a vital platform for the Peruvian Ministry of Culture to fulfill its mandate of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and supporting traditional artisans. By providing a dedicated marketplace and recognition, the event aims to foster economic viability for craftspeople, ensuring the continuity of ancestral techniques and knowledge transmission. The inclusion of international participants, such as the delegation from Ecuador, signifies a strategic effort to broaden cultural exchange and elevate the profile of Peruvian crafts on a regional level. This initiative addresses the systemic challenge of preserving cultural traditions in the face of modernization by creating direct economic incentives for their continuation. Looking ahead, the sustained growth and sales figures suggest a robust market demand for authentic, handcrafted goods, potentially influencing future cultural policy and investment in the artisan sector.
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