The International Folk Art Market has announced that Stacey Edgar has been appointed as the new Executive Director. The organization’s Executive and Search Committees conducted a rigorous application search and interview process over several months to identify the right candidate for the role. Edgar was selected due to her exceptional acumen and strategic vision for the organization’s future direction.
“I am really excited for the folk artists because of Stacey’s background. She has deep international experience in Latin America and Africa and experience creating markets for artists. She understands the small businesses of the folk artists and the difficulties and challenges the artists experience every day at the grassroots level. It is a terrific match,” said IFAM co-founder Tom Aageson.
Stacey Edgar is a distinguished social entrepreneur, educator, researcher, and consultant for artisan businesses. She has been working with folk artists from around the world for over two decades. For the past five years, she has been serving as an assistant teaching professor in the Social Responsibility & Sustainability Division at the Leeds School of Business in the University of Colorado Boulder.
“I am incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to join the IFAM team — with its amazing founders, board, advisory board and staff — as we work together to celebrate our 20th anniversary. My goal is to partner with our global community of folk artists to expand the role and positive impact of IFAM in creating connection and opportunities for folk artists as we move into our next 20 years,” said Stacey Edgar.
Edgar has impressive qualifications and has received recognition from several organizations such as Microsoft Corporation, Organic Style, and Multichannel Merchant magazine. She recently published a research study titled “Artisan Social Enterprises in Zambia: Women Leveraging Purpose to Scale Impact” in the Social Enterprise Journal.
IFAM’s 20th-anniversary market in 2024 will feature 167 artists from 51 countries. The market is excited to welcome artists from Papua New Guinea for the first time. The event will take place from July 11-14, 2024, at the Santa Fe Railyard Park and promises to be an incredible celebration.
