CAMAGÜEY.—The third edition of the National Handicrafts Fair (FENAR) will take place from January 31st to February 13th at the Camagüey Fairgrounds, bringing together 67 exhibitors from several Cuban provinces.
Organized by the Cuban Fund for Cultural Assets (FCBC), the event will feature two main pavilions, outdoor areas, and themed tents, and will be open to the public daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
According to Seidel Toledo Pimentel, director of the FCBC’s Camagüey branch, Pavilion 1 will showcase leading artisans, with a special focus on footwear, furniture, and applied arts. Highlights will include rocking chairs and dining sets by Cabalé, as well as balance sculptures by artisan Cristóbal.
Pavilion 2 will host artisans and non-state forms of management, offering a wide range of handicrafts and household items. Outdoor spaces will feature tents with food services and other amenities.
Exhibitors include creators from Havana, Matanzas, Holguín, Las Tunas, and Camagüey, along with one local development project, four small and medium-sized private enterprises (mipymes), and more than 30 independent artisans.
Isneydis Pacios Mesa, commercial deputy director of FCBC Camagüey, noted the return of creators who participated in previous editions, such as Calzado Correa and Calzado Isabela, to revitalize a footwear line currently underrepresented in the province.
The textile sector will once again feature designers such as Juan Carlos and Lis Moda, alongside other proposals. Ceramic works, assorted crafts from Havana, and products by Faval will also be on display.
Priority placement within the pavilions will be given to artisans, while household goods and other offerings will occupy secondary areas.
As a new feature, FENAR 2026 will include business-oriented trade rounds, enabling wholesale purchasing opportunities in addition to direct sales to the public.
“The fair opens the door to new business opportunities while maintaining fair pricing, with products sold directly by their creators,” Pacios Mesa emphasized.
Conceived as a multicultural event, FENAR 2026 combines commercial activity with a broad cultural program. This was highlighted by Cheila Domenech, FCBC specialist in promotion and communication.
One of the most anticipated spaces is the Creative Projects Tent, which will allow small enterprises and community workshops to engage in live production. Participating initiatives include Las Hormigas Locas, Manos Aureus, Carsueños (doll-making), and El Rincón del Orfebre, led by silversmith Nelson Despaigne.
These projects aim to attract children and young people while promoting the learning of traditional trades such as ceramics, weaving, and metalwork.
Another key attraction is Dando y dando, coordinated by the Vitrubio Project, which will bring together visual artists including Martha Jiménez, Bienvenido Letford, Oscar Rodríguez Lasseria, Orestes Larios, Katisleivys Sedeño, René de la Torre, and Jenny Hernández Carbó.
An additional exhibition and sales event will be held at Plaza de la Solidaridad (Parque del Gallo) from February 3rd to 7th, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., coinciding with Camagüey Culture Week.
The program also includes a donation to the Camagüey Pediatric Hospital and competitions for Best Stand and Best Handcrafted Product, with awards to be presented at the closing ceremony.
FENAR continues to strengthen its role as a space for direct public engagement, incorporating surveys and dialogue between visitors and creators.
The fair will accept both cash and digital payments. However, during power outages that affect connectivity, electronic transactions cannot be guaranteed because the venue does not have a backup power generator.
Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez