Artist Selection Process

How we select our Maestros and Our Commitment

Feria Maestros del Arte is committed to presenting an exceptional, diverse, and authentic representation of Mexican Folk Art.

Our Commitment

Every artisan represents more than an individual artist. They represent a family, workshop, community, and living artistic tradition.

Our responsibility is to select with care, fairness, respect, and a commitment to the long-term preservation of Mexican Folk Art.

Our goal is to create a Feria where extraordinary traditions can be experienced directly through the Maestros who create them—and where those traditions can continue to thrive for generations to come.

Our Selection Committee

Our Selection Committee

• 10 members

• Approximately 150 years of combined Feria experience

• Reviews applicants and selects artisans based on both individual artistic excellence and the overall balance of the Feria

What we look for

• Quality and authenticity

• Artistic excellence

• Traditional Mexican Folk Art

• Geographic and community diversity

• Variety of techniques and materials

• Established and emerging Maestros

• The significance of the artisan's work within their community and tradition

• Potential for meaningful relationships with collectors, galleries, museums, architects, hotels, and the public

• A strong overall balance of the Feria

How the Process works

1. Application

• Completed application questionnaire

• Biography

• Awards and recognition

• Previous Feria participation

• Family workshop or collective participation history, when applicable

• Minimum five photographs of the work

• Photo of the artisan with their work

• Photo of the artisan actively working

2. Initial Review

• Applications are checked for completeness and eligibility

• Previous participation and participation in XCARET are reviewed

• Previous conduct at the Feria is considered

• Work is reviewed for potential duplication with artisans already selected or under consideration

3. State-Level Review

• Applications from Chiapas, Jalisco, Guerrero, Michoacán, and Oaxaca are reviewed by State Coordinators

• State Coordinators help identify outstanding artisans and understand the traditions represented in their regions

• When possible, they also assist with transportation and logistics

• Workshop visits may be arranged when practical

4. Committee Review

• Eligible candidates are reviewed by the full Artisan Selection Committee

• Committee members receive at least one month to review candidates

• Each artisan is considered both individually and as part of the overall Feria

5. Final Selection
The ASC considers:

• Artistic quality and authenticity

• Diversity of communities and regions

• Variety of techniques and materials

• Traditional and emerging artistic practices

• Opportunities for collectors and visitors

• Avoiding unnecessary competition between participating artisans

• The overall benefit to the artisans, the Feria, and its guests

6. After Selection

• The proposed final list is reviewed by the Board and ASC.

• Approved artisans receive formal invitations.

• Artisans confirm participation and provide any additional information required for planning and logistics.

• If an invited artisan declines or cannot participate, a qualified runner-up may be invited.

Why Diversity Matters

• We do not select artisans in isolation.

• We consider how each artisan contributes to the Feria as a whole.

• When two applicants substantially duplicate the same community, tradition, or type of work, the ASC may need to choose between them.

• This allows the Feria to present a broader representation of Mexican Folk Art and creates opportunities for more Maestros.

Participation and Rotation

• The Feria seeks to balance opportunities for new and established Maestros.

• The goal is to develop a rotation in which approximately:

• One-third are first-year artisans

• One-third are second-year artisans

• One-third are returning artisans who have rested for five years

• The ASC may make adjustments when circumstances warrant and when those adjustments support the mission of the Feria.

Sponsor Artisans

• 7 of the 90 spaces are designated for significant, ongoing Feria sponsors.

• Because private-home hosting is limited, these spaces do not include hosting arrangements.

• Sponsor artisans are not subject to the standard two-years-in-five-years participation limitation.

Our 2026 Maestros:

• 90 artisans will participate

• 43 are new artisans

• We are developing a rotation system that creates opportunities for new, returning, and established Maestros