Artisans from Apurimac and Cusco to export their works to Italy

The cooperation of Vicariato San Agustín de Apurímac, the Regional Directorate of Trade and Tourism, and the NGO Apurímac Onlus, made possible the creation -in 2006- of Taller San Nicolás (Saint Nicholas Workshop), institution intended to help young artisans by providing them with art classes and with the knowledge to let then create their own business (and keep them running).

According to Michele Mattioli, Project's Coordinator, San Nicolás has sold more than 32,000 soles (US $10,300) to Italian markets, in only two years. Pottery, andean frames and replicas of cusco-style colonial paintings were amongst the most demanded works.

“Our first export was small: only 2,000 soles. Then requests rose to 10,000 soles and in the most recent one we have sold more than 20,000 soles” explained Mattioli.

Now, due to the increasing success, 25,000 euros have been assigned to improve the project and broaden its action towards adjacent provinces.

Not only that: the students are widening their horizons. “We want to create a cooperative, because that would ensure we will have jobs in the future, as well as the possibility of opening more workshops to give the same opportunity to more youngsters” said Rubit Quintanilla, Painting student at San Nicolás.

The success of San Nicolás has inspired a similar initiative, this time intended to young native artists from Cusco and Apurimac, who will receive training in pottery, knitting, textiles and business seminars: but this projects contemplates also the possibility of giving them small loans to allow them afford their own projects (and make the existing ones grow).

The main goal of these projects, in the long term, is to teach the people in these Andean areas --considered amongst the poorest ones in Peru- how to organize a business and improve their lives.

(El Comercio)